I bet you don't know what a crouquembouche is :}

Some stuff just makes my day. There are actually lots and lots of things that have day-making potential in my mind. 

• When someone sends me a really sweet text at a totally random time, just to tell me how much they love me
• When I spontaneously get to hang out with someone and do fun stuff
• When I get any new makeup. Stop being judgmental people...I AM a girl after all
• When my absolute favorite songs come on the radio (This is How We Roll and Just the Way You Are)
• When random strangers compliment me
• When what is happening around me right now, happens. And that would be: two of my siblings and a good friend of ours who is super cool jamming out on three guitars in my family room :) 

It really brings a crazy amount of joy to my heart. It is very difficult to explain actually. I have an insane liking for the sound of acoustic guitar, especially open chords. *If you don't know what open chords are, you are missing out on some serious ear candy. (What does that even mean? I feel like it sounds inappropriate...heh heh)* Well, anyway Charlotte, so yeah. They're all teaching each other different songs and picking melodies, and singing, and it is so much fun to listen to. It's incredibly relaxing. I guess I can try to explain it by saying it makes my heart happy. You know the feeling...like when you hear or see or feel something that you just absolutely love and you just sigh...and are so comfortable. Yep that's it for me right here. (Partly because I stink at guitar and I am jealous of anyone who can play well, so I just love to hear other people play what I can't.) I think they would be weirded out to know that I'm writing about them as they're playing...I mean I probably would be. Just kidding, I don't think I would. I don't really know why I said that. *ahem* They are some cool kids let me tell you.

So what I was thinking about today is (can you use was and is in the same sentence? Whatever) JOY. What is joy? Where does it come from?  From whence does it come? How do you get it?

Supposed definition of joy

I mean I guess that is a pretty accurate definition right there, although I don't think I really agree on the first one in that list to be honest. I mean I think that is the definition of happiness, but joy, to me, is something different. Joy comes from God. From knowing that God is with you and protecting you and strengthening you, and because of that you don't have to worry about anything. Only then can you have joy. I mean, if you are considering your successes and good fortune, then yes. You will be happy. But somewhere in the back of your mind you will always have doubts about the future, longings, regrets, and things like that. So you can't be 100% full of joy. 

Where do you get joy?

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. – Psalm 16:11

Umm I'd say that is a pretty easy answer. As long as you get the fact that the psalmist is talking about God here. We get joy from God. See that? Not from success, or people, or having a good breakfast. From God. Geez Google definitions, get it right. Sheesh.

yeah Google, sheesh

Ever heard this? The joy of the LORD is my strength 

Of course you have. Or have you been living under a rock? I don't know. Maybe you have. What am I even saying right now? Ugh so anyway, before I rudely interrupted myself, yeah so that's from the Bible. So it's obvs true. If you delight yourself in the Lord (He will give you the desires of your heart...and) He will give you joy. I feel like I say this in every single post I do, but what could be better than the Joy of the Lord? I have definitely used that phrase "what could be better than..." way too many times for it to be accurate. But you know what I mean. Pray for Joy. Ask God for Joy. Relish His Joy. Don't think constantly about all the crap in life, in your life, but choose Joy. It's so much better than choosing to have a pity party, or a worry fest or any of that junk.

Insert seamless topic transition here

On a much more interesting and fun note, my sister made me an insanely delicious and awesome dessert because we saw it on a cooking show and we (meaning she) had to try to re-create it! It is called a crouquembouche. Otherwise known as a cream puff tower. Cream puffs stuck together with caramel. I know. It is a real thing and it is a fantastic thing. 

I am sorry to say it didn't turn out looking too much like that picture...because our cream puffs somewhat sank down into not so puffy puffs...but the idea was the same. And she even successfully did the spun sugar on the outside that look like creepy-cool sugar cobwebs. Anyway, it was delicious and we only ended up with two injuries. *****do NOT under any circumstances, EVER touch hot caramel. You may end up with a 3rd degree burn in under 1 second.***** 


I am dead. I should be getting my second wind soon...but for now I am done here. Adios you cool kids you. (And adults???)

XO Charlotte

This did not end up as a very interesting post, but I promise that the next one will have lots more gifs and videos and cool junk like that. ( I have said junk twice in this post...I feel like that's a bad sign or something.) Okay really that's all. Goodnight.