It's 11 o'clock. I foolishly let Scott Coutts (The coolest kid alive from California) See my computer. I ended up with this!

when all you wanted was to be wanted.

One of my closest friends now has a boyfriend.  He's not her first, but this time around, it's a little different.  And don't get me wrong -- I'm happy for her... kind of. 

See, this guy is two years older than us, which really isn't a problem if he's a good Christian guy and his main focus is God.  Now, he says he's a Christian, but in my opinion, he doesn't live it.  He cusses for one thing, and for another, he doesn't seem to be interested in long-term commitments, if you know what I mean.

I don't want to hurt her feelings -- but I want her to know that I don't feel like God wants her to be in this relationship.  But then she'll snap back with the whole jealousy thing, and I really don't want to go there.  Because I'm not jealous.  Sure, he's an upperclassman and well, he's an upperclassman, but I don't think it's a good idea.

Picture this: a Nicholas Sparks guy rides in on a white horse (or better yet, in an old Ford pickup :) ), takes you by the hand, and tells you you're everything he's ever wanted.  You spend hours upon hours on the phone, you walk down by the river holding hands, and listen to [insert your favorite band here], which you both happen to love. He eventually proposes, kisses you in the pouring rain, and you have kids three years later.  And don't forget the golden retriever on the front porch.  Ain't love grand ;))

Now imagine this: a cute guy asks you out on a date and he acts like Will from The Last Song.  He tells you you're amazing and that he'll be the prince if you'll be the princess, that it's a love story baby just say yes.  Sorry, Taylor Swift moment.  Anyway, so you give him your first kiss (and quite a few more after that) and you just know you'll be together forever.  I mean, he loves you, right?  Six months later he gives you the whole 'it's not you, it's me' speech and you end up bawling your eyes out for days and eat 10 packs of peanut M&M's.  Not a pretty picture...

If I asked you to pick which scenario you'd prefer, the first one would win by a long shot.  As teenage girls, we long to be wanted; our hearts yearn for acceptance, attention, and love.  But guys, well, a lot of them only have one thing on their mind.  Not all of them -- that's for sure.  But 95% or so.

Well, I'm really afraid that my friend's relationship is going to turn out like choice B.  I mean, she's human.  We're human.  We want to be wanted.  But if you wait for the right kind of want (did ya catch that? ;) ), your life might play out more like #1.  Not as perfect, but a lot closer to it than the heartbreak sob story.

But right now, she can't see that...

"'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you,
You're gonna believe them.
And when you're fifteen, don't forget to look before you fall
I've found time can heal most anything
And you just might find who you're supposed to be.
I didn't know who I was supposed to be...
At fifteen."

california.

I've always wanted to visit California.  Ever since I discovered "California" by Hawk Nelson, anyway. The sunshine, the surfers, Hollywood...I don't know.  Something about it has just made me wonder.

But now, I'm rather...turned off to California.  It took my best friend away.  Well, not really.  But it sort of feels that way.  See, Scott's dad had to move because of his job -- to California.  And (obviously) his family got drug along with him.  Which included Scott.

Scott and I go back to the seventh grade (sixth grade summer if you want to get technical), when he first moved here from New York.  I'm not really sure how exactly us becoming friends came about, but...it did.  He decided to call me 'seventh grader', not Anna -- I suppose that's how it all started.

Over the years, we went through a lot together.  Scott had my back and I had his.  Just worked that way.

But then, the horrible news came one day in geometry.  He was moving.  To California.

I didn't cry surprisingly -- I think I was in shock.  Someone who I had poured my secrets -- my heart into -- was leaving.  2, 000 some odd miles away.

We had a going away party for him, and I kept telling myself I wouldn't cry.  I guess I thought that if I told myself that I wouldn't.  But I did.  Losing a best friend is hard -- knowing that I wouldn't see him geometry, at prayer group.  I guess that's why I cried.

I still remember the day he left.  He gave me in hug, and walked out of the geometry room, and never looked back.

California's treating him awful now.  He says the kids and teachers cuss, and most everyone is hostile.  And all I can do is pray, and try to encourage him with mere words.  It's hard to stand by and watch your best friend suffer.  I think it's harder than experiencing it yourself, knowing they're hurting and you can't do anything to stop it.

So.  After all that, I can get to the main point.  I'd really like ya'll to pray for Scott.  It would mean the world to me...and to him (if he knew -- which he doesn't -- so ssh! ;) )

{faithful friends}

Hey girls :) So, I got to thinking, "I really do have some faithful blogger friends. People I can count on, people that'll comment, and pretty much help me out in any way they can." So. I created an award - the faithful friend award. Here's how it works.

*List three of your faithful friends

*Explain how/why they're faithful.

*Award it to 3 other faithful bloggers :)

*Display the picture above on your sidebar (if ya want to).

*Have fun!

Simple enough? :) Alrighty. Well, to get this thing started, I'm awarding it to...

1) Lily @ Snatched from the Wind

2) Emii @ Girlz 4 God

3) Chelsea @ Club CHEA

Lily

Well, Lily's a pretty new follower on my blog, but she is super-sweet. She always has something uplifting to say and we were both born in October. I can tell she truly wants to please God and that's just awesome. Lily, you're a soul sister :)

Emii

Wow, Em! It's been a whole year since we became blogger buds. Emii was one of my very first followers and she has remained true til...well, not the very end, but now :) And I know she'll be there til the end, 'cause she's a girl for God.

Chelsea

Chelsea was one of my first followers too. She's very encouraging, giving me compliments and lifting me up. She is on fire for the Lord and isn't afraid to let others know. Chelsea, you rock!

Annnddd that's it :)

Blessings always & forever,

anna :)

So I am in geometry class with the coolest person alive named, PETER SCOTT COUTTS!!!!!!! He has been my best friend since I was in the 7th grade, man he is awesome

closed windows.

Well, I'm going to be completely honest. I did not come up with this post. It's from the sermon I heard the other day, which was totally amazing by the way. And it got me to thinking. We had a guest pastor (Bro. Jason is preaching a revival in his hometown) and he talked about relationships. Relationships in which we get hurt. And we think, "Jesus, you say you know what I'm going through. Nobody's every lied to you, betrayed your trust." But that's not true. Judas betrayed him with a kiss! A kiss! The most sincere gesture to show someone how much you love them. Peter betrayed him too. Jesus even predicted he would deny ever knowing Him three times before the rooster crowed. Sure enough, he did. I've been hurt by my friends too. Hurt bad. Secrets have been told, promises have been broken. And I've closed my window. The window to my heart, as he put it. I've sealed it shut, and it hasn't been opened in a long time. I haven't tried to make another "best friend" because I've been hurt so many times in the past. But God wants us to make best friends. He doesn't want us to be on the outside looking in. He wants us to give friends that have hurt us a second chance. He wants us to give them our heart, even though its been broken. He wants us to keep loving.

John 13:34-35

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

They'll know that we're His disciples by the way we love one another.

And as usual, I have a song to go along with my post :)

"The Outside" by Taylor Swift talks about the outside looking in. Well, when we close our windows and don't let people in, how can they have a chance to make it up to us?