Sea Glass/Smoothed Rocks

 

 

So, I was watching t.v. one night (while i couldn't sleep), and an infomercial came on. Since there wasn't anything else good on at 3 a.m. I usually just the infomercials or netflix. Now, you are probably gonna think this is weird, but it was about sea glass. I have never heard of such a thing. So, of course, i went on my ipad and searched it on google. I started reading about it, and how it's "formed" so to speak.  It is really interesting, so i will just give you a brief explanation of how its made.

Basically, people will toss their empty beer bottles, soda bottles, any type of glass bottles, etc. into the ocean. Sea glass is glass found on beaches along oceans, bays, rivers, or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the waves, water and sand, creating smooth, frosted shards of glass. 

Now, you are probaby wondering why am I talking about sea glass. The whole infomercial was talking about how much the glass had to be tossed around by the waves, weared down, and eroded before it could become "smooth, frosted shards of glass". Sea glass is some of the most beautiful glass you will ever find. People get wedding rings, necklaces, high fashion jewelry, stain glass pieces, etc, made with this cool glass. There is every color imaginable. But, for some reason, the whole process of it turning out to be beautiful, stuck with me. While I was praying one night, i couldn't help but think about the sea glass and how it applied to me.

Once upon a time, you were tossed in the waters, quite unsure of what might happen to you. Over time you washed up on shore and had to endure the crashing waves, over and over again. There were moments that you felt like giving up because the pain was just too much. Or, you wanted so desperately to get yourself back out to the open water where you didn’t have the constant pounding against you. And yet, you remained. You stood firm on the promise that you will be taken care of. “And just look at you. Refined. A woman of perseverance. A gem. You are valuable. Beautiful.

Pain and hardship are miserable. We will do almost anything to keep it away. Yet it is through pain that we are refined. We change. We grow. We are somehow strengthened. It is uncomfortable. So uncomfortable.  Hardship. While we desire to escape it, we come out stronger than we were before. This isn’t without tears or some “Why God?” moments.

So what does this have to do with beach glass? I see my life and the life of my friend as a little piece of beach glass. We aren’t always sure how we will survive different circumstances in our lives. We think we will break under the constant crashing of disappointments, hardships, and trials. But, if a piece of discarded trash can become something beautiful and valuable, I have to believe my Creator is doing much the same with me. He is refining me. Smoothing the rough edges. Softening the exterior that can cut and be dangerous. He values me and with the break of each wave, I am becoming more of who I was created to be.

Haley

Running :)

My favorite sport is running. I would run all day and all night if I could! It's been my passion since third grade. I know, it's a little extreme, and you might think i'm crazy, but, I love it! I mean, i love it so much, that i fractured my hip! You are able to push yourself in more ways when you would think. Every time I run I learn something new. There is the book that a dear coach of mine gave to me, that is near to my heart. It talks about a little boy who is doing so great in a race, but then trips and falls. When everything seemed impossible, and he didn't think he could finish the race, he hears his dad yell, "get up and finish that race!" and than other people cheer him on too! For some reason it just strikes me so much right now at a time in my life where things haven't been the best. Right now, my life kind of feels like it's falling apart. Things are happening, that I never thought would happen to me. And I feel like I just keep getting knocked to the ground. Almost like I'm running a race and I am falling. And I can't quite get back up on my feet. And "finishing the race" seems almost impossible. Sometimes I feel, like I can't finish and "get back up." and sometimes I feel like I've lost all of the ones who I loved. And that I am all alone, but then i hear the one person cheering me on saying, "get up and finish the race!" Other people start to join in too. In hard times, you forget what can be important, when it's right in front of you. When I felt all alone, I forgot that I had 2 great parents who are sacrificing so much for me, and doing all they can to help me finish my race, and are doing everything they can to help me. I forget about all my brothers and sisters who are pulling their end too, and helping take care of me! And only wanting the best for me! And who could forget, the cutest nieces and nephews in the whole world! They are always cheering me up, and are so sweet! And I'm so grateful for friends who stop by to visit and cheer me up too! I'm just grateful for all of the people who have been there for me since I was sick, and are cheering me on! So thank you everyone for ALL of your support!! <3

Quote~~"It's not where you are in life, It's who you have by your side that matters."

My simple, yet complicated life!

Welcome, to my simple yet complicated life!
After being encouraged to create a blog I'm finally starting. Six months later! So I'll start off by introducing myself a bit. I LOVE to run, I love being crazy, and hanging with my friends. I especially like to be busy 24/7. I love to play the piano and teach it. I really love my family. I enjoy spending time with all of them including my cute nieces and nephews. If you haven't heard yet, I have had an interesting seven months. I have been really sick since January, and finding cures seem to be impossible. Although doctors don't know when I'm going to get better or how I'm going to get better, I know I will! I have a condition called gastroparesis. It is commonly found in older people over 50 with diabetes. Since I'm obviously a teenager, the doctors find it to be extremely rare. Gastroparesis is a condition where the nerve that digests food is paralyzed. The nerve runs through my heart and into my brain. So it controls other things too. I also have another condition called P.O.T.S. It makes it hard for me to get up without feeling dizzy and feeling like I'm going to pass out. I have sore joints, sometimes I feel like I'm 90. I'm usually in pain 24 hours a day mostly with my stomach, and my joints. So obviously I have a few things that aren't working right in my body, but hopefully someday they will work! As I deal with this sickness, I sometimes can't help but think, why me? But, whenever that comes into my mind, my favorite quote comes to mind. "God never said this life is going to be easy, he just promised it would be worth it." Then I start thinking not why me, but what am I supposed to learn? Although I never thought I would be given a trial like this, I feel I have learned a lot, that no person can learn without being given something as hard as this. I have been blessed with so many loving friends and family that helps me every day, in more ways than they know! Although being sick isn't very fun I'm very grateful for it at the same time. It's healthy to be sick sometimes. I'm learning lots of lessons I didn't think I would learn for a long time. Although it's hard for me to grasp sometimes, I know that god only gives us trials to make a stronger. He won't give us anything we cannot handle or anything that we cannot bear. Something better is in store, and I can't wait to figure out what what that is. So now that you have a glimpse into my life! My simple yet complicated life!