Boo.

Beth is my friend.
She's also my partner in crime, kindred spirit, and my sister.

Everyone call Beth, Lizzy.

But she has always loved the name "Beth."
So, being the wonderful sister I am.... and knowing how awful it is not to have ANY nick-names (Helen cannot be shortened. Don't try!), I started calling her Beth.
I also call her Boo....
Sometimes Pooker.
Often, Stinker.
Every now and then, Poo.
A few times, Bertha.
Mostly, Beth.

She is pretty awesome!

I've known her for.... forever!

We happen to get along pretty great. Which is a good thing since the majority of our lives were spent with the other at our side.

Beth is married.
This tragedy occurred almost two years ago.... wow, time flies.
*It wasn't really a tragedy.

Her husband is this dude.

*He's cool*

Actually.... he's pretty awesome!

He makes her smile/laugh!

They had the most incredible wedding.... ever!

Jeffrey wrote a bunch of the music.... because he just happens to be able to do that.
He sang Beth a song he wrote while she walked down the aisle.
Dad did the service.
God was totally glorified!

Jeffrey brings out the best in Beth and vice-versa.....
I didn't think Beth could get any better.... but he really does make her shine even brighter!
It gets blinding.

They (More specifically, she...) had this baby.

Isn't she cute?!?!?!?!
I think she is..... and I say that from a totally un-biased point of view.
Well... never mind.

Beth is the PERFECT little wife and mom!
She makes homemaking look like a breeze.

I don't think being married means that you have to be all serious and boring....

 If it does, Beth failed.

They have their own wittle family!!!!

I miss Beth.
I see her at least twice a week... talk to her almost every day.
But I miss her.

I wish I could say Beth and I are alike...
But it would be a lie.
Beth is perfect... at least as perfect as is allowed.

Although two years older than me and WAY taller .... I beat Beth up when we were kids!

You have to understand my side of the story.....
Imagine growing up with an angel as your sister.
It rubs your "naughtiness" in your face.
Bad excuse?
I know....
I still feel bad about my bullying!

I look like a nice kid in this picture..... it's fake.
We have a video to prove it....

BUT.... I grew up!
After I turned twelve... my vicious side toned down.
I don't pinch people anymore!
Now I just put salt in their coffee... etc.
*Just kidding!

She loved me through my "bullying."
We became buddies/friends and did some crazy stunts throughout the years.

I have a great sense of humor....
Not everybody appreciates or understands it.... but it really is great!

I have a few sides of my humor.
I have the humor that only my brothers "get."
It is usually the more gruesome side.

I have the humor that my parents understand.
It usually includes songs like "Taylor the Latte Boy."

And then I have this insane side.
This crazy, psychotic sense of humor that NO-ONE gets....
No-one but Beth!

She has that same sense of crazed humor.

I miss sharing those crazy moments

Even though she is old and married.... she still has that craziness.

A while back we took Marian to her AWANA games...

It was pretty fun.
We drove mom's car... (Goodness, drag racing is fun! *JUST KIDDING!!!!*)
Went to Chai....
I held Em....
I made Em cry...

We ate sour Skittles...

We laughed...

We talked...

It was awesome.

Last week, Jo, Beth, and I went walking downtown...
It was awesome.
We walked.
Talked.
Ate.
Drank.
Were merry.

A couple days ago.... I ordered some boots from Macys.
By the way.... I never EVER shop at Macys.
But they had this great sale.
And I got a REALLY good deal because I chatted with an associate.
I felt SO accomplished, until....The next day I looked at my bank account and saw that they had charged me TWICE for the boots....

I was scared.
I thought I got scammed.

I frantically started calling every number possible.

EVERYTHING was automated.
I was frustrated at this point.

Beth came over, heard what happened, and started helping me.
We were both frustrated.

"Macys is taking my money!!!!!!!! Ah!"

We finally decided to write them an email.....
SO we did.
At this point, we were really mad.
You can understand..... they were stealing my hard-earned money!
Being a Barista isn't as easy as it looks.
Okay, okay, maybe it is.

Our email was a joint effort....
Beth and I are nice people.
But remember.... they were stealing my money!
It wasn't mean.
It was "clear."
We tend to feed off each other..... and we wanted to make sure they took us seriously.

After a few more phone calls.... I started jabbing all the numbers that were not listed.
After a few, "This number is not available...." it rang and an actual voice picked up!
I can never be rude to an actual person.... so I calmly stated that they were trying to steal my money and I wanted it back.
The nice associate on the other side, in an even calmer voice explained that that was actually just a hold on my account.... it wasn't taking my money.
*Insert blushing, stammering, glaring at Beth.*
"OK.... Thanks!"

Oops!

Then there was yesterday.....
I was having a Monday, on a Tuesday.
I was all emotional and sang "I had a Bad Day," a few too many times.
Beth called, pointed me to Christ, talked, processed ... it's all better.

Times like those are dear to my heart.
They remind me that even though Beth is all married and stuff..... she's still my sister!
We still can have crazy times.

Sisters are a wonderful thing....
You have a bond that holds you together through all the different stages of life!
We went through the rough parts of life, as well as the highlights together.
From the terrible twos, to the dramatic teens.... she was always there for me!

Even though she has entered this totally new time in life, we still share that relationship.
A relationship that means the world to me....
Beth has made my life so much brighter.

She is everything a woman is supposed to be, loves the Lord so much, and has pointed me to Him SO many times!


I am SO very blessed to have her in my life.....

I love her!!!!!!

Our own Band.... :)

I love you, Boo!

My Big Little Brother

I just saw something funny/stupid... my first thought: "Oh, I have to show Johnny!"


Then a sad reality hit me. Johnny isn't here to tell.
Johnny has abandoned us all to go on a week trip to Texas.
How heartless! Who am I supposed to share my crazy jokes with?


I can still text him. I did.
I told him I was going to write a blog about him... he was scared.


Now I sit, ready to tell you about my big little brother, Johnny.
He is pretty awesome.
Johnny has been my buddy for as long as I can remember.
We have got ourselves into so much trouble together! 


Johnny protects me.

When Johnny took me hunting, he didn't get mad at me when I kept taking pictures and made too much noise walking... he just turned around, smiled, and pointed out how to be quieter.

Johnny "gets" my ridiculous sense of humor... that is a rare attribute!
We will laugh at something that make no sense to anyone else.

Johnny likes my cooking.
He says things like... "This is the best lunch I've EVER had."
I'm starting to think that it is really just code for, "I love you and I know you want to hear that."
He eats LOTS of the food I make. That makes me happy.

We were playmates as kids.
When Jo and Beth started "growing up," Johnny and I allied in our immaturity; we did everything together.


Many a day, we would spend half the day packing the wagon to go play "pioneers" in the fields... we would drag everything out there... decide we didn't want to play anymore and spend the rest of the day unpacking!
We never really thought through things.


There have been many crazy things I have dragged Johnny into. 
Like the time I decided to make a "movie."
Mom was gone and we were supposed to be cleaning.
I talked Johnny into being my fellow actor while Jo and Beth became our directors and camera crew.
We spent all day on that silly thing. 
Just a glimpse... 

Pretty great sound effects, right?

Needless to say we didn't get much "cleaning" done.

Sometimes I think that Johnny and I are really twins.... with some time in-between.

On my 19th birthday, Johnny gave me a letter that brought me to tears.

I will always treasure it.

 He could never really know how much that meant to me!


Johnny once came into our room when I was having a moment... you know the type of moment when you cry... just because . He hugged me and explained that my life wasn't really falling apart. I was over-exaggerating (shocker!). I stopped crying.

Some may think I am bragging and well... I am.
You have to admit... He is kinda awesome.
I am so proud of the man Johnny has become.

He has a heart for the Lord and I know that the Lord has great plans for him.
Johnny makes me smile.
He is my kindred spirit.
I love him.

Check out Johnny's face!

It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on!  ~Author Unknown

First a brother, then a bother, now a friend. ~ Unknown

Uncle Johnny!

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero.  ~Marc Brown

To the Memories...

I wonder what type of old lady I will be someday. I can picture myself sitting with a cup of tea (Because I will always drink tea!) reminiscing the life of my youth.

I wonder what I will remember...

It may be the late night laughing episodes, water fights, or family times together. In the midst of all of my wacky memories, will always be those special times with the Lord and memories of God's guidance and unconditional love. There will be many memories packed into my old brain... many that are still yet to come.

As I look into the future ahead of me, it reminds me that I will not always be in this comfortable place that I sit in now. Only God knows where I will be in these next years of my life.

Back to my old lady thought... I do believe that there will be a few things in my life that my mind will always hold onto! A few memories that are too dear to my heart to ever be forgotten!

Life has a way of sending curves you were not expecting. In this last year, more has changed than I ever expected or dreamed.

Thankfully.... God is faithful! He has led and loved through it all! He will continue to hold me throughout the life that He has planned for me!

A few highlights from the year!

Taking FIRST in our volleyball tournament!

My best friend/sister's wedding!

.

Becoming Cinderella for a couple of months!

Emily Rose Bickish! Making me into an aunt!

Latte's! They are a huge part of my life!

Here's to the memories!