Thinkin'.

So this picture makes me cry.
This is from a story that was in the newspaper two years ago. You can read it here.

And I was thinking, (hence the title), about soldiers.
Cause yesterday was memorial day.
And a lot of the time, I don't really think about soldiers.
I guess its easy to forget that they are far away fighting for our lives.

But I remembered reading this story, and like, seriously guys.
These people have to leave their families for our freedom? Us?

That's crazy.
Basically this picture says it all.

A lot of you reading this have been to Mexico, right? If not you can envision. (is that a word?)
It's like, you've been loving these kids all week and you know you have to leave soon.
You're holding their hand DREADING when you have to let go.

Or if you're a parent, you can imagine it.

Look at that guy.
Imagine how he feels.

That's his baby.

He has to let go soon, and he doesn't even know if he'll ever be back.

We've never met that guy and we probably never will,
but he gave up everything for us.

That is insane.

So just remember, (and it doesn't have to be memorial day to remember),
That there are guys giving up their lives for us everyday.

Pray for them, and thank them every chance you get.
Cause that's incredible.

Pregnant...?

Okay, so yesterday when I made my facebook status "Goin to love some kids :)"
I didnt know I was "Goin to fall in love with some kids."
But I kinda figured it out when I looked in the window and saw tables full of kids and had to stop myself from crying I was so excited to go in and see them.

Wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me start from the beginning.
Last night about.. 15 or so people from my youth group/church went to this place called Lazarus Tomb.
What's that? Well to be perfectly honest with you I'm not exactly sure.
But from what I could figure out, (and there are people who could tell you way more about this than I can) it's a Christian coffee house. Says Google.
But anyways, we went there to do an outreach to a bunch of kids.

So okay, this place is in Arnold, PA. Have you ever been to Arnold? Have you ever even heard of Arnold? I havent. Until last night.
So our first impression of Arnold is this: we drive in and see the whole "Welcome to Arnold" sign, and there's a paper up on a telephone pole that says "MURDERED" with a picture of a little boy under it and "$10,000 REWARD".
Hmmmm.

So, theres six of us in the hot (hot hot hot hot) van, and we pull up and I'm not sure if I wanna jump out and get some fresh air or stay in cause I might get murdered. Haha.

But we come up to the door, and there are maybe 4 or 5 tables FILLED with kids.
And like I said I was SO excited.
In a way it kinda reminded me of pulling up to the orphanage in San Luis.

So we go in, and they're shouting things as soon as we walk through the door. Those kids dont hold back!
"Are you mixed?" "Is your dad black, or is your mom black? ...No? SHE AINT MIXED."
"How old are you?" "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Whats your name?" "Are you married?" "Are you pregnant?"
................................. pregnant?

Anyways, there were only three of us girls (besides leaders) and Pastor Anthony said to go sit with the kids, so naturally, we went to the girls table hahaha.
Right away they claimed who was gonna sit with them, haha.
"Who wants me to sit by them!?" "ME!" "ME!" Fun stuff.

So they got the kids into a game and they won twizzlers.
And this was like, a tough crowd! We had to go all out to keep their attention!

So Pastor Anthony does the Bible skit, in modern form, with some of us and some kids.
That was a hit.
He asked them some questions and talked about how God wants all of us, etc, then he said that he wanted everyone to repeat the prayer after him.

And, my gosh. It wasnt like, at church whisper what he says and wonder if someone hears you.
They YELLED the prayer! Loud and proud!
That was one of my favorite parts of the night.

Then.. we did the shark song.
If you're in incline you know what I'm talking about.
Pastor Anthony was on stage and two other guys and me. (goodbye comfort zone.)
At the part where it goes "Shark attack!" .... yeah lets just say... big pile of kids, we didnt do that part again. :)

And then they said, all the kids ten and under go into the back room to eat. The littlest boy grabbed my hand so I went back with him.
One kid was talking to me, and I couldnt really make out what he was saying but I did hear "...and then he beat me up in the street..."
These poor beautiful kids.
I ended up at a table with the youngest boy and the youngest girl! I was excited.
I got them talking about their favorite animals and favorite colors and all their siblings and how the little girl didnt like the pepper things on her pizza and whatever else they could possibly say even though I didn't understand half of it.
They seemed to be content with me smiling and saying "Really! Wow, that's SO cool."

After most of the kids had left, there were four little boys still there. They were brothers. The ones in the picture.
Someone put some music on and they wanted to dance!
So a little boy with a blue shirt and killer smile grabs my hands and I'm pretty sure we spun in a circle for 20 minutes.
I was so dizzy but that was okay because I could tell he loved the attention and I loved giving it.
When we had to leave he kept hugging me and giving me high fives and waving.
It was so sweet.

So anyways, last night was incredible and I loved it and I cant wait to go back and see them again!
It was such a blessing to me and I hope we blessed them somehow.

Have a beautiful day everyone :)

Make a Memory.

On Sunday I wasn't feeling all that great. My back hurt and my head hurt. I took medicine. It helped.
Then I was just tired.
So, I'm laying on the couch watching some Hallmark movie (I love Hallmark movies.)
And my mom had to go take my sister to her friends house so I had to watch Mario.
He reeeeeeeeeeally wanted me to come outside so he could ride his bike on the street (he's not allowed to go by himself.)
I reeeeeeeeeeeeeally wanted to lay on the couch and finish the movie.
My mom told me I have to go out.
So I put on my jacket and went outside all mad. (Cute, I know.)
Then it starts raining. Great. Mario, time to go inside and watch a movie!

But then my mom said something that got me.
I guess she knew I wanted to lay on the couch and watch the movie and the next movie and the next movie.
She said, "Make a memory."

That. Hit me. I always always wonder if he'll remember things some day.
I always wonder that about kids.
I remember some things from when I was little, but only a few memories.
So I always hope that kids will remember like... stuff we do.
And I always wonder what makes something so special you remember it.

So Mario, "Awwww. Okay Gianna." is walking into the house.
And then I was like, Mario hurry up get your play clothes on lets go play in the rain!
REALLY!?!?!?!
Yeah!
OKAY! CAN I WEAR MY BATHING SUIT!?
......If you really want to! But you have to wear a jacket.
OKAY GIANNA!
Okay Mario!
Are you gonna wear your bathing suit?
No but you can.
Okay!
Okay get dressed hurry!!

So he runs out of his room in a tshirt and his bathing suit and announces "I don't have underwear on."
Adorable.
Since I told him "You have to wear a jacket so you wont get pneumonia" he picks this big puffy red power rangers winter coat.
So he's wearing this big puffy red coat and his swim trunks. He looked so funny. I wish I took a picture.
I put on jeans and a sweatshirt and a jacket and we ran outside. After the first puddle I figured I should probably roll my jeans up. (It was a lost cause, by the time we were done I was soaked.)

So we ran down the street holding hands and jumping in every puddle.
When we came to one of those drain things, he thought it was really funny to kick the water into the drain.
He had so much fun.
We walked down our street, back, down another street, back, down our street again, down another street, back, down the driveway, back, down the street, etc.
He let go of my hand to jump in a big puddle but then ran back saying "I missed your hand."
On our street he goes, "You're the best sister I ever had."

Then we're walking down this hill cause there's a drain at the bottom and he wanted to kick water into it.
He pulls on my arm, I bend over, and he gives me a kiss.

Then we come home, and he sees a BIG puddle at the bottom of our driveway we just HAVE to jump in.
We're running down the driveway laughing and he screams "This is the best day EVER!"

We put two leaves in the big puddle he found and he decided they were boats and we were gonna have a race.
His won, of course. :)

Then somehow, he switched the game to "all the leaves are our family."
One leaf was Daddy, one leaf was Mommy, one leaf was Mia, etc.
He got the leaf that was "me" and put a really tiny leaf on top of it and told me I was babysitting. Hahaha.

He asked me, "Do you wanna go inside now?"
"We can stay out here as long as you want."
"REALLY!??"

So we ended up being outside for like an hour, then came back in got all dry and I made him hot tea.

I really really hope he remembers that day.
I know I will forever.

And know what, after that I felt a lot better.

So I learned a lesson, and I thought I'd share it with you.
Next time you're laying there doing nothing for no reason, find someone and make a memory :)

Have a great day everyone!

See for Yourself - Sex Before Marriage

Okay, I'm fasting from Facebook, but not my blog.
I am still going to post this, so people will see it.
I'm not on Facebook for the next several days, if you need anything, text me! Or email works too.

So, premarital sex.
Something that, especially recently, is not uncommon.
Tons of TV shows have it in them.
I bet you could name ten.
But just because the media is okay-ing it, because people in your school are, should you?

Well, if you call yourself a Christian, if you want to follow the Bible, the answer is clear.
Sex before marriage is not okay.

Scripture time.

 Click here, read, then click back.
So basically this is saying, God has someone picked out for each of us.
The whole "Your prince charming will come" thing, that's legit.
If it is in God's plan for you to be married some day, someone WILL come along who will be worth the wait.
This is true for guys and girls. "Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose."
"Why would you trade enduring intimaces for cheap thrills with a whore? For dalliance with a promiscuous stranger?"
Why would you trade what God intends to be special between you and your Mr. or Mrs. Right for someone who wont always be there.
Why would you give yourself away for just a moment of thrill, when God wants never ending happiness for you and the right person.
Wait.

 Now click this, read, come back.
Okay, explanation time.
This pretty much is saying.
There's more to sex than what someone might think.
Its not something to do... just because.
Its for when you get married.
When "two become one."
"In sexual sin we violate the sacredness of our own bodies, these bodies that were made for God-given and God-modeled love"
Something as special as the body God gave you, why would you want to violate yourself?
Please, ladies and gentlemen, respect yourselves.
In doing that, you respect God.
"Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for?"
Jesus died for you, so that you can have this life, have your body.
And for you to just give it away would be a tragedy.

o   “First, is it a good thing to have sexual relations? Certainly – but only with a certain context. It’s good for man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world of sexual disorder.” 1 Corinthians 7:1-4 MSG

Okay, this one I typed, cause biblegateway did not cooperate in giving me only the verses I want.
So is sex good? Yes, but only when you do it right. In marriage.
Sex with someone you are not married to is not a good idea.
It doesn't just affect you physically, it effects you emotionally.
And marriage is strong enough to overcome that,
but when you're not married, there's no commitment.

Click... you know the drill.
You might say you cant control yourself.
Or you're so in love, you just have to.
Or the other person talks you into it.
But remember, you're never tempted beyond what you (with God in you) can handle.
No matter how much you feel like you "have" to do it, remember God is right there with you,
giving you the strength to stay pure.


So, that's what the Bible has to say about it!
Have a great day everyone :)

Babysitting!

Warning: This isn't a See For Yourself post.
Its kind of an emergency interruption.

You see, I am very in need of some jobs to raise money for Mexico/sponsor this little boy.
So if you could pass this on, that would be very great!


I am certified with the American Red Cross for babysitting,

I know CPR and rescue breathing,

I've had 3 first aid classes.

I have 4 years of experience babysitting kids from ages 3 months - 9 years.
I've babysat up to 5 children at once.

I'm the oldest of 14 grandchildren on my mom's side of the family and somewhere in the middle of 22 grandchildren on my dad's side, so I've been around kids my whole life.

I have watched special needs children, helped with Vacation Bible School, been with kids in 2 different orphanages, and I help with 5 and 6 year olds on Sunday mornings at MAOG.

I absolutely love kids, and am also willing to cook/clean.

So if you need a babysitter or know someone who does, please let me know :)

Thanks! Have a wonderful day everyone :)