My Bubba

This is my Bubba.

My bubba is the cutest little boy in the whole. Entire. Earth.
My bubba is the one I love to go to when I'm sad, or mad, or happy.
And he listens.
He loves weather, the sky, space, animals...
He is my science boy.
He can tell you everything there is to know about Skyrim and the newest quarterbacks.
He is turning 12 this Summer.
Speaking of summer, he tans so easily. He already has his freckles back and is darkening up.
He is SO very mature for his age.
And he can make me laugh so hard that I feel a six pack coming on.
He loves to swim when others are out there with him.
Sometimes he's quiet, but he is CRAZY at 4 am. Even crazier than you'd think.
He will make me laugh when I really don't want to.
And he makes me enjoy it.
He is the cutest little boy ever.
And, in my *cough* completely unbiased opinion, he is going to be one of the most handsome fellows alive when he gets older.
He is the apple of my eye.
The cheese to my macaroni.
He slurps his drinks.
He sprints when he wants to get somewhere at home.
He is sweet to our little sisters.
And respectful to our parents.
He has the cutest belly laugh.
Ever.
I can't imagine a day without him.
I LOVE MY BUBBA!
:)

My Carry-on Packing List

I've been bitten by the travel bug. It's a pretty bad case of it. So, to sate the appetite, I started looking for packing lists for carry-ons. I was so surprised at how hard it was to find a packing list that didn't include packing for your entire trip! Which is great for the people who need that. Really, I don't even need it. A carry on is a carry on. ANYWAY, maybe there's someone out there like me just wanting good ideas. So without further ado...

Jordan's Carry On Packing List!

*cue applause*

These are my airplane essentials. I've traveled a fair amount for a sixteen year old. So yeah! Here we go.

Don't forget the 3-1-1 rule!

3. Liquids must be in a 3.4 ounce container. No more than that.
1. All the containers with liquids must fit into a single quart sized plastic bag. I'm a fan of Ziploc.
1. Each passenger is allowed only one of these quart sized plastic bags. If you have a seat, you can have a bag.

Water

Grab a waterbottle once you get through security. They don't typically come by with drinks enough, and if you're anything like me, limited access to something makes you want it even more. Buy water once you get through security.

Food

Grab nuts, dried fruit, crackers, jerky, or anything else you like. You'll thank me later.

Phone/iPod

You need music or movies or non-internet requiring apps. Something in case you get bored of anything else you bring. Don't forget your earbuds! This is especially useful if the in-flight movie as one too many adult scenes for your taste.

Books

For me, this includes a puzzle book, a Sudoku book, and a novel. Pens and pencils (One or two of each.) are also essential. You wouldn't get very far in a Sudoku without a writing utensil. I may even throw a coloring book and some colored pencils or crayons in there too.

Seabands

They help with motion sickness. I haven't had a bout of it in a while, but better safe than sorry.

Clothing

Make sure that you're wearing clothing that you can move in.

If I'm heading for Mexico, I wear shorts and a tank top or a light weight summer shirt. If you live in Texas, that's basically any shirt you own. I also wear flip flops or sandals as it's easier to slip them on and off on the plane and when you're going through security.

If I'm off to Canada and my body isn't used to the cooler temperatures, however, I wear jeans, a long or three quarter sleeve shirt and a jacket. And flats. Flats or TOMS are great for slipping on and off. BUT! As you and I both know, those shoes can get stinky. So, make sure the smell isn't nauseating before you go. :)

Other stuff:

Other items you might consider (or need to be) grabbing are:

• A pillow
• A blanket
• Sleepmask
• Earplugs
• Sweatshirt
•  iPad, Kindle, Nook, or Laptop
• Chargers for your phone and any other electronics as you never know when you'll be stranded at the airport
• Money
• Passport
• License

Is there anything else? What am I forgetting? What would *you* bring on the plane with you?

Have a great day!
Jordan

Share this Blog Post if you love God, and Kittens, and Bacon, and Sunlight, and Puppies, and...

You know what bugs me?

Like and share if you think this adorable kitten is adorable.

Ignore it if you really hate God and really want to go to Hell.

You don't share a picture to prove your love for God. It doesn't work like that. Instead spread His love. Believe Jesus died for your salvation. Love God. Sharing a picture on facebook will not, under any circumstance, save your soul. That's Christ's job.

That is all.

Have a great day!
Jordan

Bucket List Update, Plus Surprises to Come!

Guess what!  I'm one week into summer and I can already cross off some bucket list items! (Some are ongoing, but I've been keeping up with most of those) :)

1. Watch sunsets. Every one you possibly can! Summer sunsets are too good to miss out on. So don't. Also, take pictures of the extra special ones!
2. Go for a run at least three times a week. I need to get in shape. I look fine, yes. But health before looks. :)
3. Put my camera to good use. Get some good pictures like the one I snapped today of my sister! (Isn't she a doll?)
4. Go one day without saying a word. To anyone. Just. Listen.
5. Find an open field and dance with it with friends. Be goofballs and have a blast!
6. Make a gorgeous bouquet of flowers and put them in a pretty vase in my room.
7. Drive. A lot. I've got to get my license before school starts!
8. Get organized. Simple enough. ...Right?
9.  Readreadreadreadreadreadread! Read so much. Get that brain moving and working!
10. Go somewhere exciting.
11. Get moved to tears. Absolutely touched. :)
12. Find a random address in the phone book and send an encouraging note. Maybe do more than one!
13. See people. I only have two summers left. I refuse to sit around all summer and not see friends.
14. That being said, spend time with family, too. (The whole running-low-on-summers thing applies here, too.)
15. Watch a scary movie with friends and stay up all night. Maybe watch a chick flik to make it better. Hah:)
16. ROADTRIPS
17. Blog. I've obviously been neglecting my blog. But I promise I won't over the summer.
18. Get a tan and not burn. Okay, maybe I can't control this one very well, but I'll try! My porcelain skin just can't handle it sometimes. But I'll get tan. ...Or at least what's tan for me...
19. Take my dog on walks. She's fat and out of shape. She will get in shape with me. (This will fall on days I'm not running.) :)
20. Laugh until my abs hurt and I kick up my asthma. (It's happened before and will happen again. But it made my list anyway.) Let's see how many times I can do it.
21. Pull at least one all-nighter.
22. Spend a night just looking at the stars... maybe sleep outside. With people. People are cool. :)
23. Spend a day looking at the sky (a blue sky day with the puffy clouds.) Again. With people.
24. Go to Six Flags.
25. I will be better about recording my dreams in my dream journal. I've got a lot of vivid, crazy ones. Maybe I'd want to share one someday.
26. Get my freckles back.
27. Spend more time outside (so I can get freckles again) :)
28. Start eating well again.
29. Start a journal. Do it consistently. Even if it's a calendar journal where I just write a bit in each box.
30. Learn to crochet or knit. Maybe even sell them. Who knows?
31. Learn a song or two on an instrument. Vocal chords don't count.
32. Get a good night's sleep here and there.
33. Fill out a coloring book or two of Disney princesses or something. My sisters aren't allowed to touch them. Hah:)
34. Visit the gym. My mom owns a cheer gym that I competed with for ten years. I haven't set foot in the place in a year. I miss the people!
35. Throw a party for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Just because.
36. Wear no makeup as much as you can.
37. Wear dresses!
38. Learn to weave flowers or whatever the proper term is into a headband or necklace or something.
39. Bake cookies, cake, or some sort of other random dessert.
40. Learn to make gazpacho soup, and learn to make it really well. (I. Love. Gazpacho.)
41. Learn to make food in general. Haha!
42. Scream at the top of my lungs until my voice gives out. Maybe this will be at Six Flags.
43. Do 100 crunches a day. At least. Too easy? Keep going. And going. Until you die. Hah:)
44. Drink lots of water! I haven't been drinking enough lately and it's leaving me not 100%.
45. Get my wisdom teeth out. I'm not looking forward to this, but it's gotta happen. I'll make it good though. Lots of movies, and ice cream, and pinterest.
46. See a movie or two at midnight with friends.
47. Swim until my fingers look like those of an old man.
48. Learn to do a bunch of different new hairstyles really well.
49. Be able to do the hiss (take a deep breath in for four seconds and then hiss like a snake for as long as you can) for obscene amounts of time.
50. See God do something absolutely insane that just about makes my mind implode and is a vision of beauty and His love.

 That's six things crossed off! Plus I'm adding one so I can cross it off.
   51.  See a solar eclipse... at sunset.

YES!!

I got to see two seconds of a solar eclipse. At sunset. The sun was BRIGHT red with a silhouette sliding across it.

No... I didn't have time to grab sunglasses. It was setting too quickly. But two seconds shouldn't kill me... right? I'm believing that I'll be fine. :)

I spent the day in the sun with some friends on Thursday and I am officially one shade darker. Plus I have freckles again. Booyah!

There are actually some things that will be crossed off over the summer, but you don't get to know what they are yet. :) My lips are sealed. For now.

You are going to get some fun blog posts as a result, I'm sure.

I finished the play I was in! Get Smart. It was a fun show! I'm so glad I got the opportunity to work with such an awesome cast and crew!

Overall, it's been fantastic.

:)

What Do I Want to Be?

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

I'm a junior. I was asked that question a lot as a sophomore, I don't want to imagine what it will be like once my junior year actually starts. I can see it now... "You're a senior next year! What are you doing with your life?"

I don't know.

I don't.

Honest.

Sure, God has dropped a hint here and there. But I'm running on three words and a feeling. So, I can't answer your question yet. I want to be a mom. But career? Not so sure. I like what my science teacher said towards the end of the year to us, "They expect you to know exactly what you are going to do with your life from the second you're out of the womb. But you don't. And that's okay."

She IS Mrs. Frizzle. I adore her.

Anyway, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'm supposed to adopt. I asked God where from and I am convinced He started laughing in a "just you wait" sort of manner. (What on earth am I getting into?) That's gotta have some financial support... right? Right. I think He's going to let me in on His plan a bit more soon, but who's to say besides Him?

I'm very excited to learn His plan for me. I'm a bookworm and I see it as if I've just gotta get on to that next chapter. Keep reading. Don't stop.

So, if anyone is wondering what I want to be when I grow up, I have no clue. But God does. And my future is safest in His hands. Don't you think? I do.

"Unto the pure all things are pure..."

Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

Titus 1:15

If you are truly pure, than everything in your life will reflect your purity. Your relationship with God, your relationship with family and friends, how you treat strangers. It will affect how you handle situations and the "defiled" can see your love for God and your freedom and will want it, too.

Non-Christians and those who act as such will not receive this beautiful, pure spirit. They may see it in others, but cannot have it for themselves.

If you live a defiled life then your heart and mind is defiled. If you confront the facade of leading a dual lifestyle, you know that the defiled one is what is really in your core and you need to reach out to God. And God will not deny you another chance, because if He did... Jesus' suffering would have been for nothing, to a certain degree. He is salvation.

Canada Writings by Lil' Ole Me

Here's some writing that I did in Canada last September! Ready? GO!

A white cloud of fog dances its way down the mountains. Gazing out to the great Pacific ocean, I watch the waves swell and jump to meet the awaiting rocks. As the fog reaches the rough waves below me, it spreads like a wild fire to somewhere beyond the horizon. Seagulls squawk as the lighthouse rhythmically belts out its one, solemn note. The trees twist and stretch, concealing the coast from the winding roads. I take a deep breath and crisp, fresh air tinged with salt fills my lungs. Peace drapes itself over the beach, refreshing all on the shore like a cool breeze in a sweltering desert.

Weak stomach? This is about a bear's dinner. So don't say I didn't warn you. I thought it was cool! :)

The fluffy black creature bumbled down the hill, dodging foliage and rocks. Splashing into the creek, the bear scanned the water for the right fish. Splash! The massive muzzle entered the water, clenching its prize in its jaws. The bear tore into the salmon, then released it back into the water. It repeated the process a couple of times. However, on the third round, the bear released the bloody salmon into a miniature hollow, stranding it in the rocks. The bear went to find another catch. Meanwhile, the injured fish was gasping for water. It flopped and twisted, trying anything to get even one of its desperate gills into a pool of water. Finally wriggling itself into a puddle in the rocks, the fish lay motionless. The bear returned to the fish, looked at it for a moment, then sat next to it to watch the humans across the creek. Suddenly the salmon leaped into the air, then splashed into the water below. The bear turned just as his breakfast escaped. He stared at the spot where its blood still lingered, the heaved a sigh and climbed back up the hill.