Home Sweet Home

To me home is whatever we make it and what we believe our home is can change. These are what I have considered as my home in the last year! 

Home is where you grow up: I have grown up in Chico, California, which is in the valley of northern California about an hour and a half north of Sacramento. You may have heard of Chico, because it is the home of Chico State, Aaron Rodgers (from the Green Bay Packers), and Shawntel Newton (from the Bachelor).  Chico has grown a lot and isn’t the small town that it used to be, but still has the small town feel. When you go to the store in Chico you are likely to see a familiar face. Chico will always have a special place in my heart. I was born there, my dad was born there, and my mom grew up there. I know that no matter where life takes me Chico is always going to be my hometown and will always be the place that I made the memories that formed me into the person I am.

Home is your family: I have a pretty great family even though I don't always show them how much I appreciate them. My mom, my dad, and my sister are home. Even though my parents haven' t gotten rid of me yet I know that leaving them is going to be one of the hardest things i'm going to have to do. Because to me my parents are the reason that I am where I am and any kind of success that I have had I owe to them for raising me into the person I am. I love you mom and dad! My mom, dad, and sister aren't my only family. I have my uncles and aunts and cousins and grandparents. They are all my family too. I know that no matter what I can count on all of them to be there for me when I need and to me that shows that they are my home. 

Home can be a friends family: I became extremely close to my ex boyfriend's family. I was at their house almost every night at dinner. Even though I hadn't known them for very long I felt comfortable around them. They always included me and supported me almost as much as my family. Even though things with my ex didn't work out I am always going to have that memory of his family bringing me in and giving me a second home. 

I guess what I am trying to say is home is what you make it. I am still searching for exactly what home is and I think we always are since it changes constantly. Home is where you feel safe and comfortable. Home is filled with people who love you and care about you. Home is different for everyone! 

A Perfect Proposal

A perfect proposal is something to me that comes from the heart. It doesn't have to be big it just has to mean something to the person. I witnessed one of the best proposals ever but i'm a bit biased because it was between two of my favorite people! My uncle proposed to his girlfriend yesterday on February 17th and nothing could have made it a better proposal.

It happened during my uncle's reenlistment ceremony into the Navy. During the ceremony they called up his girlfriend to give her a certificate of appreciation for her support of my uncle. When reading the certificate they called her his fiance, she looked confused and turned to my uncle and he was on one knee. It was one of the sweetest things I have ever seen and another one of those moments that change you. I am so grateful to have both him and her in my life and can't wait to continue watching them build their lives together they are two incredible people and even though I already considered her my aunt now it will become official! 

The moment that changed my life...

Its crazy to think that one moment can change your life completely. That one conversation can change the way that you view life and yourself. I started this blog as a way to see how those moments change me but what I didn't think about is the most important moment that changed my life. The moment I knew that I wanted to give my life to Christ. Honestly lately I hadn't given much thought to this day because with recent events it makes it kind of painful, but confronting painful things are what makes us stronger right? Anyways some parts may be rather vague because I don't need to completely talk about my past but in the end I hope you can understand how one single conversation changed my life.

Here is a little history leading up to that moment. During my junior year of high school I started going to Young Life. My boyfriend at the time convinced me to go with him. I had never really believed in God because I grew up in a non religious house. My parents never had anything against religion they just weren't interested. Honestly, I think they were kind of surprised when I told them what I was doing but they were supportive of my decision. Anyways I spent about 6 months hearing amazing stories about Christ through my Young Life Leaders and it really made me wonder is there really this amazing God that can do such incredible things? The summer after my junior year my boyfriend and I decided to go to Woodleaf with our Young Life group for camp. I thought to myself maybe this is what I need to really know if I believe in God. My boyfriend was always really supportive of me tying to find my path and knew that I had to come to the decision of giving my life to God myself. One night during our week at Woodleaf we were given free time, my boyfriend and I found ourselves in front of the store at a bench. We started talking about the talk that we had listened to that night. The talk was about sins and how our sins can effect those around us. I broke down crying because there were somethings in my life that I wasn't proud of and they were things that him and I didn't often bring up because they were painful. I sat there crying and he just hugged me and told me "Regan I forgive you. I love you for who you are and even though you did things in the past that you aren't proud of and that hurt me, they have made you into the person you are today and I love you." Up until that moment I never really understand the power of forgiveness. Honestly I was amazed and that moment I fell deeply in love with not only my boyfriend but God. You may be wondering how that made me fall in love with God. Well, for awhile I didn't understand either I just kind of knew in that moment. Later when I thought about it I realized why. The bible says that sometimes God shows himself to us through other people and thats what it was. Even though it was my boyfriend saying he forgives me I could hear God in my head telling me that he forgives me too. And that was the moment that I knew I wanted to give my life to Christ. At lot has changed since then and at times I have drifted away from my faith but in the end I know that my heart belongs to Christ. I still find it incredible that a single moment like that can have such an impact on you. 

As an ending I want to give you one of my favorite bible verse because to me it sums up everything that I realized was true about God.

Luke 6:37 

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." 

Happy Valentines Day! XOXO

There is something that I have been trying to wrap my head around all day. So lets start from the beginning. My mom made wonderful banana and chocolate chips (or so I thought) muffins, for my sister's class. I ate a few and they were really good. I asked my mom about the chocolate chips and she said that they aren't but a healthy alternative.

Okay, well I am a lot like my dad and the minute we hear the word healthy we both think gross! Yes I admit there are some things that are healthy and are still good but to me things like muffins are not supposed to be healthy just like fruit isn't supposed to go on pizza. (Yes, I don't like Hawaiian pizza!) 

My mom explained that all treats brought to my sister's class needed to be healthy. This really irritated me. Yes, I understand that we have an obesity issue in the United States but if you can really tie that to kids getting candy a few times a year at school then you have some magic powers that we should know about. 

I just don't see the point to have kids not receive candy at school when I bet they are going to go home and their mom or dad is going to give them candy! Kids DO NOT get over weight because they ate candy at a Valentines Day party in 3rd grade! Kids became over weight because of how they eat at home. So why not let kids live a little. 

I remember in elementary school Valentines Day was almost as good as halloween! All your classmates give you little Valentines Cards with a piece of candy, what little kid wouldn't love that? Well I guess this is just one more thing that my kids are going to miss out on because our society is changing. Is it good or bad I guess I we will have to wait and see!

Happy Valentines Day Everyone!

XOXO