September 20th brought with it some of the most beautiful words I've ever heard. "Hey Charlotte, you want to stay home from work today?" Thats how my morning started at 6:30am. I've been saving my one vacation day for the day that baby Cooper #3 would make her debut into the world. She picked September 20th. It was a really long day...but I really had the easy end of the stick, I wasn't the one giving birth! Holly and Adam let me be at the birth. I didn't actually end up being in the room when Abigail was born, but very shortly after I was, and before she was 2 hours old, I was holding her. This has brought me to some serious thoughts on love.

See, Abigail isn't even 2 weeks old yet, but she is one of the most important people in my life. In fact, that whole family are beyond important/special to me. They let me do laundry every week at their house my senior year. They fed me every time I went over there. When I came back from Christmas break, I went to their house even before I went to the dorms. They made called me the day they found out they were expecting baby #3, which happened at the end of one of the worst weeks of my life, (and I do not say that flippantly), and the thought of something as precious as a new baby helped me so much. They made it a point to come to my graduation. They helped me have one of the best birthdays of my life, even though it was the first one I spent away from my family. They came to the play I was in. When I've been struggling with things at work, they are always willing to listen to me vent, and offer advice about what I should do. They feed me, all the time. They let me be at the birth of their daughter. Did I mention how much they feed me? I don't even want to know how much money they have spent feeding me. I don't eat THAT much, but I'm still an extra adult eating their groceries!

They kept thanking me, after Abigail was born. I couldn't figure it out. Why on earth should they be thanking me, when they are the ones who LET me be at the BIRTH of their daughter?? I should be the one thanking them. They are so, so, so good to me. I want to pay them back, I want to do whatever I can to show them how much their love means to me. I can't even explain how special they are to me. They are the reason I stayed in Florida. I couldn't imagine having to say goodbye to them without breaking down in tears. Lydia, Timothy, and Abigail mean the world to me. They are my favorite kids ever.

I can't figure out how to express with words how much I love them, the only way I feel like I can give a glimmer of it, is by helping, and doing things for them. That got me thinking though...shouldn't that be how our relationship with God is? He loves us SO much, and like the Coopers and me, we/I sure don't deserve even half of it. We should show our gratitude to him by our actions. Words are good, but actions are what is going prove our love. Why is it easier to tell people about how much the Coopers mean to me, than to tell people about how much God means to me? How much have I done to show God that I love Him?

I'm so thankful for Adam and Holly and their 3 adorable kids. They are so special to me, and I'm SO, SO thankful that God chose to let me be a part of their life, and family. They are just as much my family as any person on this planet with some of the same DNA as me. You know, the first day that I spent with Holly and the kids, Holly was supposed to go out, and I was going to watch the kids. She accidentally kicked something and hurt her foot pretty badly, so I stayed and watched her and the kids. She said that I could come back and do laundry whenever I needed to. I think I spent about $1.25 on laundry all year. I consider Holly to be one of my best friends in the world, and I can't imagine where I'd be without her. She builds me up, she is silly with me, she lets me be in her family, she lets me hold her baby all the time, and so much more. I get to spend Thanksgiving with them, and the rest of the extended family. I got an official invitation and everything. I can't wait.

I sincerely hope that you get to experience the kind of love that I've got. It's something I wouldn't trade for the world. To have someone love you so much, and so unconditionally is something that most people get with their biological families...but they kind of have to love you. The Coopers don't have to love me, but they do anyway. That's what true love is about. I hope you are as blessed as I am.

With love,
Charlotte

Today is Nick and Sarah's 8th wedding anniversary. I've never me them, but Sarah is the cousin of one of my best friends, and Nick is the brother of my dear friend's husband (who also happens to be a dear friend). 8 years ago today, Nick and Sarah got married, and Adam walked Holly down the aisle as a bridesmaid. I don't know what I was doing, 8 years ago, as a little 13 year old. College was far from my mind, and so was working full time after college. As far as I knew, I'd go *somewhere* to school, promptly find someone, fall in love, and get married. Not so much. Little did I know, that Nick and Sarah (2 people I've still never met) would impact my life in such a big way.
God had different plans for my life after college, and it involved a whole lot more than just me and my wants. Because Holly and Adam met at the wedding, and eventually fell in love and got married (it's a really good story, one of my favorites, you'll have to ask Holly), and eventually made their way back to Tampa, where they started attending church where I did over the summer between Soph. and Jr. year, and then Holly hurt her foot and needed someone to come help her out for the day at the beginning of my Sr. year....because of all that working together, I still live in Tampa. I don't know if that really makes sense all written out, but the short version is, if Nick and Sarah hadn't gotten married, I probably would not still be living in Tampa right now. I stayed for a couple reasons, but one of the biggest was that I couldn't bear to leave Holly, Adam, Lydia, Timothy, and the baby. Out of all the people I have met, I've said goodbye to a lot of people (and everyone who I've said goodbye to, don't take this the wrong way, I still love you all too!), but I honestly couldn't think about having to say goodbye to them without breaking down in tears at the very prospect of it.

I'm so glad Nick and Sarah got married. It has been a huge blessing for me. God sure was looking out for me, even as a 13 year old, He was getting something amazing ready for me, 7-8 years down the road. I wonder how I'm going to end up impacting someone's life that I don't even know...I wonder what's being planned for me right now...God is amazing.

Gotta go eat breakfast with Holly and Adam. I love my life.

Love,
Charlotte

Thanks for the prayers! I GOT A JOB!!!! I'm actually replacing Caleb Adkisson, in his job at an insurance agency run by a Christian. I get to start the Saturday after graduation, so it is perfect!!

I have to study for my Biology test in the morning...just wanted to thank you all for your prayers!!

Love,
Charlotte

Apparently I'm incapable of forming complete paragraphs, so another list entry it is. At least this time they might be almost complete sentences!

~I got asked to banquet, and I said yes.
~Today is jersey swap day, and I'm ok with wearing red and black.
~I got a new phone on Friday. It is the Verizon Razzle, and it's pretty cool!
~I am much less tempted to take a nap when my bed is made and my windows are open, letting in the sunshine and fresh air.
~There are 32 days until I am DONE with school forever.
~My new procrastination tool is to apply for jobs....at least it's semi productive.
~Please keep me in your prayers. I have been applying for a ton of jobs, and I have no idea where I'm going to be working after I graduate in 32 days, and because I don't know where I'll be working, I have no idea where I'll be living...city, state, apartment, house, anything. I really need to find a job to have lined up for asap after I graduate.
~I did half of my biology study guide for my test on Wednesday, yesterday, and then I accidentally erased it by not saving it properly. I'm a bit frustrated.
~I need to quit writing this list so that I can replace the study guide that I lost yesterday.
~I hope you all have an excellant week!

Love you all,
charlotte

(Please note that some of these are not revelations, and if you know me at all, you should have already known them, some however, have me wondering what has come over me)
~Purple
~Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper
~Mountain Dew Live Wire (the orange one)...kinda wierd, orange soda was always more my sister's thing
~Post Selects Cranberry Almond Cluster something or other cereal...again, kinda weird because I'm not a breakfast person, and I didn't used to be a big fan of cereal with milk
~Earrings
~Scarves
~Hair accessories
~Organization
~The Coopers, and especially the Cooper children, but I like the whole bunch a whole lot
~May 6th....66 days anybody???!?!!?!!
~Sleep...although I don't get as much of it as I'd like
~Graduation
~Not failing my classes
~May 6th
~Never having to do homework again
~May 6th
~Surviving midterms
~May 6th
~Spring break...but not as much as I usually am. I just want the break, and to see my dad who will be in town while i'm home, other than that, I don't really care that much about going home.
~May 6th
Yep, that about covers it. What are you excited about?
Love you all,
Charlotte