HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015!!!

Happy New Year! 

I can't believe its already 2015! Hope you all have a wonderful day and an amazing new year!!!

Merry Christmas!

Mmmmmmmerrrrrrrry Christmas! And happy birthday Baby Jesus!!!!!!

Hope your Christmas is amazing and full of countless blessings!

Christmas Spirit

This is so true! I LOVE this quote!!! :)

Yay! Christmas is coming!!!! And it's almost here!!!!

I'm getting in the Christmas spirit!!! What about you?!?! I already put up the mini tree in my room, and we decorated our house! I just made my 2014 Christmas playlist, and I'm sitting here by the fire blogging and jamming to Christmas tunes! 

Hope you're all having a wonderful Advent season as we prepare for the coming of Christ:)

Happy Advent:)

Thanksgiving 2014

Happy Thanksgiving! and Happy Turkey-day....as my friend Tommy says:)

I know you're all busy doing family things, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm extremely thankful for all of you!!!!! 

Have a blessed day:)

Writing About Roses...

Roses are red, 

they smell really sweet.

But thorns they do have,

and that's not so neat.

I took this picture of a rose while my mom was sick…someone had sent it to us with a "get well soon card." I took the picture out of bordom and never really even thought about it. It was just another picture…nothing special. But today, that changed.

I was going through the pictures on my phone today, looking for a certain picture for my blog, when I came across this picture. I totally had forgotten about it…it wasn't anything special, just another picture, one of thousands (literally) of pictures of flowers that I have taken. For some reason, it caught my eye, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. While I was at mass this morning, God helped me realize something that I hadn't thought of before: Life is like a rose, beautiful, delicate, and amazing, but along with its wonderful scent and beautiful petals, are thorns. Now I'm sure I don't have to tell you that thorns really hurt to touch, kind of like some things in life…some things in life just hurt. I found a really cool poem (at the beginning of this post) that I thought that it was a cool way to remember that life just isn't perfect…nothing is, except God.

You're probably like, "Yeah, duh! Life isn't perfect!" and you're correct. But the reason I brought this up is because I never really thought of suffering this way. Suffering is beautiful and amazing, and sometimes you just have to get past the thorns to see the rose. This really made me think about all the suffering and sadness that me and my family went through when my mom was sick…always worried and wondering what the next day would bring. But like I said before, suffering is beautiful… sometimes we just have to make it through the thorns before we get to the roses in our lives.

We still can't forget, though, that getting past the thorns and to the rose doesn't necessarily mean that we won't suffer again…if anything, it only means that we will suffer again, because no one's life is ever perfect. Even the happiest people who seem to have perfect lives, have their thorns. 

During the hard times in our lives, we have to remember to put our trust in God. He is always there for us, and the suffering that you're going through, as awful as it may seem, is all part of God's divine plan for us. He knows what is best for us, even when we think something is exactly opposite of the "best for us." He has a reason for everything. Your suffering might just be an "awakening" for you, helping you to realize something you hadn't really noticed before…like when my mom was really sick, I realized the importance of family, and how we are never promised another day. Thats just an example, though…suffering can show us so much more!

One more thing I wanted to mention was Jesus' suffering on the cross. His "thorns" were coming to earth to suffer and die for our sins…for our lives! He died so that each and every one of us could live! Now, thats pretty cool! A speaker at a retreat said something once that I will never forget. He said that while Jesus was on the cross, He thought about each one of us individually, and He whispered our name…thats how much He loves us. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to suffer and die for us. So when you're going through any sort of suffering, just think of that. Think about how much suffering Jesus went through for us, and try to imitate Him. And it always helps to say a prayer for help through a hard time…and I also want you to know that I'm specifically praying for each one of you reading this, and for you to have strength as you go through whatever hard time you might be going through:)

Anyways, I want to finish with an inspirational quote, that I thought was fitting for the subject of this post:)

"Although the life of a person is in a land full of thorns and weeds, there is always a space in which the good seed can grow. You have to trust God."

- Pope Francis

Love and Prayers,

Madison ♥

Sweet Little Isaac

Isaac just brings me sooooooo much joy! I love that little guy:) He just started eating food and laughing!!!!! Sweet boy! I can't imagine life without him!

He's sooooooo adorable!

He laughs at just about anything:)

Love you little man!

♥,

your big sis

4th of July 2014

Happy 4th of July! 

Right now, I'm at my cousin's lake house in Louisiana! We are having a blast playing games, doing water sports, hanging out and spending family time, and holding our first annual family olympics! A big family reunion on the Fourth of July is our family tradition, and is one of my favorite parts of the summer!

Hope you all have a wonderful day:)

The Hardest Thing I've Ever Experienced

(Here is another idea from the "list" ☺)

The hardest thing I have ever experienced was having my mom in the hospital...it was sad, scary, and difficult. But our Lord truly gave me and my siblings the grace, courage, and strength to get through our hard time! God is Good...All the time! And all the time...God is Good!

Mother's Day 2014

Dear Mommy,

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!! 

 I ♥ you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!! Thanks for always being the bestestestestestest mom EVER!!!!! I don’t know what I’d do without you! 

Thanks for always being there for me... You’re my BEST FRIEND!!! I always wanna make you proud! You are the most brave, virtuous, and beautiful person I know! I want to be just like you!!! Thanks for all you do for me........... I couldn’t make it without you! Whenever I need a friend, I know I can always count on you! I’m so proud that I get to say that YOU are my mother!

I hope you feel better! I miss you!

Lots of ♥,

Madison-Bear☺

5 Things that Make Me Happy

 

Hey! Here are 5 things that make me most happy right now! (This is another one of those "blogging idea list" things)

1. Going to See My Mom and Dad at the Hospital. My mom is currently in the hospital (there will be more about whats going on in another post). Going to see my mom every day is the highlight of my day! My dad is staying there with her, so we get to see him too! I miss them soooooooo much, and I can't wait for them to be able to come home! (Please pray!)

2. Frozen Yogurt. I have been totally craving fro-yo lately! I don't know why, but I am always in the mood to get it☺. I have also been craving ice cream, Slurpees/Icees, and chocolate! They all make me so happy!!!

3. It's Almost Summer. Finally, summer is almost here! I'm officially out of school, other than math. Unfortunately, I will have math until the end of May☹. Oh well! I guess its better than having math on top of everything else!

4. 2048. My dad's family all came in town to help out since my mom is in the hospital. My uncle got me addicted to this number game called "2048" on my phone, but it can also be found online (2048 website). It's really fun and addicting! I got my aunt addicted to it, and we are currently in a tournament to see who can get the highest score. I'm in the lead!!! Yay! ☺♥☺♥☺♥

5. Having Family Time. My dad's family doesn't live nearby (Louisiana, North Carolina, Utah), so we don't get to see them very often. I am really enjoying getting to spend time with them, even though they aren't here for the best circumstances! 

Anyways, those are 5 things that really make me happy!!! ☺☺☺

A Summary of the Past Few Weeks

As you all know, I've been REALLY bad at blogging for the past few weeks! I feel terrible! Hopefully some of you have been checking out my wordpress blog, because I update that more often with little bits of info on what I'm up to! If you haven't, here is the link:

http://typicalcatholicteenager.wordpress.com

Also, to explain why on earth I made a second blog, if I can't even keep up the first, check out one (or both) of these two posts:

#1. http://typicalcatholicteenager.wordpress.com/2014/04/16/updates-updates-updates/

#2. http://typicalcatholicteenager.blogspot.com/2014/04/wordpress-updates.html

Anyways, here's a summary of the past few weeks:

Welcome Baby Isaac!!!

My new baby brother, Isaac was born! He was born on March 29, at 7:06 am, and was 6 pounds and 4 ounces! He's such an adorable and sweet little man! 

He's such a handsome little man!!! 

April Fools Day!

On April Fools Day, me and my friends Claire and Roni (Veronica) made "brownies" for our teacher (at our once a week co-op)! We took brown construction paper and cut it into a bunch of letter "E's." Then, we put them into a pan and wrapped a ribbon around it! So basically, we made pre-cut (haha) "brown E's!!!" 

hahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Holy Week!

I had a very blessed Holy Week! I spent extra time praying and I also went to mass a few times! It was a great ending to Lent! I hope you all had a good and blessed Holy Week as well!

I also had to share this because I thought it was really cool:

Dear Jesus, thank you for suffering so much pain and dying to save us!!!

Easter Sunday!

Hoppy Easter!!! I hope you all had an egg-celent Easter! What an awesome day it is! Jesus is Risen!!! Yay! 

On Easter morning, the Nicholas, Savannah, and I got up and did our Easter tradition, which is looking for your Easter basket (they're always hidden), going through it, hunting easter eggs, and opening/emptying them out! Afterwards, we quickly got dressed and ready for 11:00 am Mass!!! We had a great time!!! We also dyed and decorated eggs the night before!!!

Easter Sunday was also a REALLY good day because I was finally able to listen to music and play games on my phone…….the two things that I gave up for Lent, which made me wonder whether or not I would survive until Easter!!! I know…..I sound like a baby….but 40 days is a lot of time to not be able to listen to music!!!! You have no idea how much music I listened to on Sunday….every chance I had, I put my ear buds in and listened to my awesome tunes!!!

Anyways, I had awesome Easter! I hope you did too!

Here are some pictures!!!

Me, decorating my eggs.

I painted some of them with my favorite color…..GLITTER!!!!

Gifts from Mom and Dad….cuz what says Easter more than a unicycle?!?!

All of us with our Easter baskets!!! 

Little Mr. Isaac…..he looks so adorable in his Easter basket!!!

Nick and Savannah, looking for eggs!

Me, who by the way looks awful because I had just woken up… :), on top of the rock waterfall in our pool….that bunny sure knows how to hide eggs;)

What a blessed Easter we had! Thank you, Lord, for rising from the dead!

I'm 14!

I'm 14 today! YAY YAY YAY YAY!!!! hehe! 

Oh yes it is!

So far, its been an AWESOME birthday! My amazing parents (I love you mommy and daddy☺!!!) got me my first cellular device (aka a cell phone!)!!!!! I'm sooooooo excited!

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! this made me laugh.....☺

Happy New Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's 2014!!!!!! Yay!!!! Hap-Hap-Happy New Years!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry Christmas!!!!!

I hope your Christmas was absolutely holly jolly!!! Did you get some super awesome stuff?!?! Me too!!! Did you go somewhere awesome, or did you stay home?!?! I stayed home, which really isn't a bad thing! I actually really enjoyed it being home!!! I had an awesome Christmas and I hope all of you did too!!!! 

So, before I get to carried away talking about presents, food, family, friends, vacations and such, I wanna take a moment to wish Jesus a Hap-Hap-Happy Birthday!!!! After all, thats what Christmas is all about! There wouldn't be a Christmas without Him! Jesus is the reason for the season!!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy Birthday to You!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!!!

Happy Birthday to YOU!!!!!

YAAAAAAAY!!!!!!

We can't forget that it's Jesus' special day! It's not all about opening presents, and Santa, hot chocolate, family, friends, hot chocolate, vacation, hot chocolate, picking out/decorating trees, hot chocolate, shopping, hot chocolate, giving gifts, hot chocolate, christmas parties, hot chocolate, and last but definitely not least, hot chocolate (did I mention that already?!?!)!!!!!

We can't forget that even though everything is CRAZY around Christmas, we have to celebrate our Lord's birthday!!! Lot's of people probably don't even think about Jesus during Christmas, and you gotta feel bad for Him! I mean, think about it.....Christmas is the celebration of GOD coming down to EARTH and becoming HUMAN!!!!! That's a big deal!!! 

So tonight, say a special prayer, and even sing Happy Birthday to the Savior of the world!

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!!!

Christmas is Coming!

I can't wait for Christmas! It's almost here! I'm sooooooooooooo excited! Did I mention that Christmas is coming and that I can't wait?!?!?!? I did? Well, then I bet you can't guess what else I'm excited about....... ☺ I'm excited that Christmas is coming and that it's almost here! AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! EXCITEMENT!!!!!!! YAY!!!!! 

ok.........take a deep breath Madi.......thats it.......nice and slow........shhhhhh calm down.........OMGOSH!!!! CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YAY! YYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is what I look like when I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Don't I look super adorable?!?!? Of course I do!!! Just kidding.....but I am pretty adorable! How can you say no to that adorable face on that lovely head that's wearing SANTA'S HAT!?!?!?!? Speaking of santa's hat well......I guess its more of a replica....its not really Santa's......but it looks like it! Works for me!!!!!! Anyways, speaking of Santa, guess what........CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!!! Only two days, 10 and 1/2 hours, 12 seconds, and 23 milli-seconds!!!!! YAY!!!!!

Ok......I'm sorry. I kind of got carried away......BUT I'M SOOOOOOOO EXCITED BECAUSE CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!!!!!!

ok.....here is a special riddle made up by yours truly that I bet you can't figure out:

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Because he was so excited that Christmas was coming (and that is was almost there!)

HA! Bet you didn't see that one coming! HA HA HA!!! I am smarter than you! Just kidding! But I have to admit that I am pretty smart......☺

Let's sing a Christmas carol!

"A Holly Jolly Christmas!"
(sing to the tune of "A Holly Jolly Christmas")

Have a holly jolly Christmas (....because it's almost here...)
It's the best time of the year (......yes it is! Told you so!)
I don't know if there'll be snow (...because I live in Texas...but there better be or else you'll feel my wrath!)
But have a cup of cheer (...or hot chocolate...cuz I don't know how to fill a cup with cheer...)

Have a holly jolly Christmas (......OMGOSH! IT'S ALMOST HERE!)
And when you walk down the street (...try not to slip on the ice...unless you live in Texas, cuz there won't be any! But there still better be! or you'll feel my wrath!)
Say, "Hello!" to friends you know (...or else they'll think your really rude...and they'll wonder why you ignored them...)
And everyone you meet! (...Not everyone though...because that would be kinda creepy...)

YAY!!!!!!! You are all amazing singers! But no one can beat my voice......"OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH" *crack* *crack* *glass shattering*
See?!?! I'm a natural!

Anywho, it was great getting excited about Christmas with you! We'll have to do it again next year, and the year after, and the year after, and the year after that one, and after that one, and.......well, you get the point☺

(please note: this post was written by Madison L. who wanted to let all of her readers know that she is very excited that Christmas is coming and that it is almost here. The "why did the chicken cross the road" joke/riddle is an original and was written by Madison L.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

I hope you all have a hap-hap-happy thanksgiving!!!!

My Relationship with My Parents

Here's another one of those blogging ideas that I got from "the list." There is a link to "the list" post at the bottom of this post.....☺ (if you haven't already read "the list" you may want to do that first)

If I could put my relationship status with my parents on a scale of 1-10 (ten being absolutely perfect and 1 being really bad), I would put it between a 7.5 and an 8.5 (it really depends...... I guess you could say an 8) Why? Well, of course, our relationship isn't perfect, because no one's is. But we are pretty tight☺. But that doesn't mean we don't have room to grow and make it better and better. I know that there will be times when I feel closer to them, and times I feel less close, but thats the way relationships are, right?

I love my parents SOOOOOOOOO much! They are the absolute best!!!

Dear Mom and Dad,

        I know that sometimes we don't always feel very close to each other, and that we go through hard times where we don't feel like things will get better. I also know that I can be very stubborn (☺) and I don't always like or agree with what you want, but I trust you. I know that you are doing what's best, and though I may give you a hard time about it sometimes, I want you to know that I know that what you want is best. I'm a stubborn kid......yes I finally admitted it, and I'm sure you guys are high-fiving each other right now, because I finally said it! I admit that I'm not always the most easy kid to discipline either, and I don't like to take "no" for an answer (another high-five! I can already hear it!) and I am really trying to work on it. Please forgive me for not always being a great daughter. I truly love you and I don't ever want you to doubt that. You are amazing parents and I trust you to do what's best for me, even when it's hard. ("Yes!" *high-five*) Though it doesn't always show, I want you to know that I'm truly striving to be a better daughter. I always want you to think of me as your little girl, no matter how old I am, because I always will be your little girl- your little "madison-bear"☺. I love you!

Your loving daughter, 

Madison♥

Link: The List

Its a........BOY!!!!!

Its a boy! Its a boy! Its a boy! Did I mention that its a boy? Im going to have a new little brother! YAY! SOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!

The new baby's name will be Isaac! Isaac James!

Here is a picture of him!

He's getting so big! he's the size of an avocado with arms and legs this week!

I love you little Isaac! I can't wait to meet you! 

-madi

Carving Pumpkins!

We got to carve our pumpkins today! We had a great time! I don't have many pics but I do however,  have one of my pumpkin!

There it is! (its supposed to be a ghost!) Don't tell anyone, but that is the best pumpkin I've ever carved.......yes ever!  After we carved, we took all of the pumpkin seeds and using a recipe we got online, baked them! They were soooooooo good!

All in all, we had a super night!

There's Gonna be a New Baby!

Yesterday, we found out that my mom is going to have a baby!!! I'M SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SUPER EXCITED!!!!! :)
I can't wait! I already have a Pinterest board of things for him/her!!!!! I can't wait!!!

Thank-you Lord for this amazing blessing! This is truly a miracle!