[behold HE makes all things new.]

it has been one crazy year! and since 2015 is here now i figured it was time to write about 2014.

last year i wrote about the 13 things i learned in 2013. it turned into a mini novel by the end. because i learned a whole bunch.

and this year i learned so much more than i could ever tell you about in one blog post. i learned a lot about myself and what the Lord has in store for me. and i'm still learning. i am thankful for beautiful people who are helping me. it has been a year of learning. but

this year i decided to write about my 14 favorite days of 2014.

1 from each month and then two extra. because sometimes life is just so beautiful that one day out of the month isn't enough. and i needed 14. because who in their right mind would write about their 12 favorite things of 2014!?

[ not i quacked the noisy yellow duck. ] - the little red hen.

okay...leggggoooo.

january - on the 29th my big brother moved back to Ohio. if you know me well you know that this may have been my favorite day of the whole year. i missed him every day he was in california. he decided to take his talents to the university of toledo and come back to the land of ice and snow! it shouldn't come as a suprise to anyone that i am beyond excited to have him back around. i got to see him so much this year and each time was a total blast! Sethy Roo - i am so proud of you. the Lord has amazing things planned for you.

february - on the 20th i sat in our music room wrapped in a blanket with a cup of coffee by my side and read one of the most beautiful stories in the world. it was called the fault in our stars. and it opened the door for a whole obsession. i read the book twice and saw the movie 5 times in theatres. many times since it came to dvd. and got the dvd for christmas. confession:: i'm obsessed because well...i'm crazy. it was heartbreakingly beautiful. i read through tears as the story unfolded, and laughter ensued in so many spots. i was absolutely captivated by the young love in this story. hazel grace  inspired me to be a better person & augustus waters was the boy every girl dreams of. i still sit wishing these fictional ones were real so i could be friends with them. jon green created a beautiful story. 

march - on the 20th i hopped on a plane and landed in texas to visit one of my best friends chelsea. she moved there in highschool and has always come up here but i have never had the opportunity to go visit her until now. on the way there i had a layover in detroit. and so did seth. it was crazy! he called and asked where my gate was & his was the one right next to mine. of course i caused a scene in the airport because i was so excited & we took a few selfies. 

once i landed in texas i had the best week ever with chels. I am so thankful for her. laughter, sunshine, catching up & lots of delicious food filled our days. we also took a bunch of naps & climbed on top of a building because...YOLO.

april - on the 6th. i celebrated one of my best sister friends and her growing belly. in other words...i went to a baby shower for chelsea kim! and also got the chance to decorate for it with the fam. her baby boy was so prayed for and the day was full of laughter and tears. chelsea is one of my favorite people in the whole world and has always been an incredible mentor and friend and sister to me. fun fact:: when i was little my life dream was to be as tall as her one day.

may - on may 23rd the pediatric brain tumor foundation featured my story. may is pediatric brain tumor month and something that is very near and dear to my heart! this is the story they ran::

[ Meet today's Starlight, Shelby Elyse: Shelby Elyse Taylor plans to become a child life specialist. After all, she says, child life specialists helped her get through her brain tumor diagnosis in 2005. “They are my favorite people and I wanted to become one of them,” says the college student. Doctors diagnosed Shelby Elyse with an oligodendroglioma when she was 13. She says the diagnosis shocked her and she worried people would view her differently. But support from family and friends poured in. Her classmates sent daily get-well cards that lifted her spirits. “Diagnosis isn’t the end,” Shelby Elyse says. “You need to fight for yourself.” And she did just that. Nine years after her brain surgery, Shelby Elyse is 22 and her tumor is stable. She says she feels great, but does encounter migraines and becomes anxious before routine MRI scans. “My prayer is that one day there’s a cure,” she 
says. ]

that day was beautiful for me. i pray that someone was impacted by my story that day. or that someone felt comfort in their situation because they read about mine. this was a day of celebrating the Lord's faithfulness to us. and a reminder that even in the midst of this hard journey that we are all on He is still good. last march i celebrated 9 years since my brain surgery. i have always pictured this journey to get easier as the years passed by but it just hasn't. i am sure those of you who have read this know my heart well by now and already know this. i pray for the day it gets easier. i pray that one day this tumor of mine will just disappear. but if that isn't the plan i pray that my story changes lives. because as i know full well the Lord works all things for good. 

june - on the 1st mama t was my date to the lady antebellum concert at blossom and we had the BEST time. june was full of weddings and friendship dates and friends coming home. it was beautiful from start to finish. it ended at sunset beach which as you know is my favorite place in the world. but the first of this month was my favorite day. we sang and we danced and we ate overpriced french fries and drank overpriced angry orchard. because we are young and wild and free. love love love lady a. and mama.

july - OH MY LAMB JULY IS MY FAVORITE MONTH. and lambs are my favorite animal. anyways. this month. oh it was so beautiful. surprises and best friends filled my days. the sun was always shining and i was always smiling. july never disappoints. okay you guys. i'm gunna cheat and use my two bonus favorite days on july. BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING:: IT IS HARD TO NARROW IT DOWN TO 3 FAVORITE DAYS IN YOUR FAVORITE MONTH OF THE WHOLE YEAR. and guess what else...this is my blog so even if i wanted to talk about every day in july i could. but i will just do three because i promised 14 favorite days. and you my sweet readers will get 14 favorite days. 

 1. so on the 11th Lebron came home. i told everyone for the weeks leading up to that decision that all i wanted for my 23rd birthday (which is july 18th by the way in case any of you are feeling led to send me birthday gifts next year.) was for #23 to come HOME. and LBJ made my wish come true. i had dreamed of seeing him somehow or pulling into swensons and seeing him in the car next to me. none of those happened. but he came home. so happy 23 to me! 

 2. on the 15th. my best friend erin pulled off an epic birthday surprise. there were screams and tears and a car ride full of questions. she picked me up. and drove me all the way to columbus. i had no idea where we were going or why. about 10 minutes into the trip she gave me a bag of organic cheetos. because she knows my heart and that organic cheetos are my favorite junk food. then she hands me an envelope: in it is a letter from one of my best friends Chad. he lives in south carolina. immediately i got teary eyed and called him. the rest of the trip i opened up 21 other envelopes. all with letters from people who i love dearly. it was beautiful. then we stopped for dinner. and then all of a sudden she parked the car on this random street in columbus. when i stepped out she handed me the last note. a letter from none other then my forever crush and favorite singer and singer parter TYLER HILTON. i about died. i mean not really. but you know what i mean. the concert was a blast. we talked to him after. took polaroid pictures and much more. oh my heart was SO FULL that day. t-hilton i love you! also...that day we met tony luca and drummer boy ryan. they were kinda cool also as well. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY! and i have amazing friends.

 3. on the 25th. a dream came true. I WENT TO SEE JAMES TAYLOR IN CONCERT. mama t daddy and my best friend erin were my dates. it was my birthday present. if you know me well you know I LOVE JAMES. i occasionally refer to him as uncle james. because we have the same last name you know. and that is a wonderful thing. anyways. the whole day was surreal. we had a lovely dinner before and then headed over to blossom music center for a night filled with music and memories. ever since i was a little girl my dad and i would dance around the house to copperline by james taylor. it became our song. and it was such a special moment to dance with him listening to jt live. 

august - august ended with my heart totally broken. as precious kate was diagnosed with brain cancer for the third time. please continue to pray for her. i would take her place in an instant if i could. we continue to believe for a miracle. join us. 

but august also held so much joy. days spent with family and friends. my precious grandma taylor turned 87. my niece turned 1. and my best friend since i was two ana took me on a shopping adventure ending with my beautiful friends at another birthday dinner for me. oh my heart was so so full. my birthday celebrations lasted like a month. 

but my favorite day in august was the 23rd. 

on that day we got to celebrate my daddy. wow. what a beautiful day it was for our family. we got to celebrate dad's 30 years of service at cvca with everyone who loves him. it was beyond overwhelming to watch person after person stand up and talk about how he has impacted them and how he is a true reflection of a Godly man leader friend husband and father. i spoke and sobbed most of the way through. and quoted what about bob of course. dad:: i love you very much. i think your special. and i'm very proud of you. 

september - in september i don't think i had a favorite day. but i had a favorite decision. i  decided to join a small group. it was a total God thing -- everything always is. one september day i texted one of my best friends rachel & asked her if i could go to bible study with her that night. she told me it was the first night. well. i went and loved it. and i've gone back every time. except once when i was basically dying. well not actually. sorry. drama. all the time. but anyways. i've made some wonderful friends there. thank you Jesus for that! my small group is actually not small. it is like 50 people or more sometimes. but whatever. i still love them. i can't wait for small group to start again!!!

october - october was pretty non eventful. i mean other then the fact that we found out my heart changed...but i already told you all about that...and if you wanna read about it just scroll down and find the post called "and then her heart changed...or at least she understood it." that was not my favorite day at all. i did have good days though! we celebrated 4 years of my tumor being stable. thank you Jesus! but perhaps one of my favorite days was our annual friendship day to amishland. yes i know you all call it amish country. but we call it amishland. deal with it people. 

november - november was also a beautiful month filled with joy. one of my best friends ana got engaged. dad and malakai and my cousin kellie had birthdays. and so much more. but my favorite day in november was thanksgiving. every family member on my dad's side was there except my brother and my cousin cortney's husband nic. we celebrated my cousin Korrie being over 30 weeks pregnant with her baby girl. a baby who was so prayed for. then we found out my cousin Kellie is pregnant with a little boy. another baby who we prayed for even before we knew he existed. as you can imagine tears and laughter filled our day. artwork by:: the bravest little dude i ever met. ian franklin.  i bet everyday in heaven is thanksgiving & i am so jealous

december - the 16th was my favorite day. i had my bi-annual MRI & the news was wonderful. the day still held tears. it always does. it never gets easier. but. He promises Joy! i am one very joyful little lady! mr. brain tumor is still stable & i get to wait 9 months to go back. we were praying for a year but God's timing is the best timing! we are beyond thankful. thank you to all of you who have walked this journey alongside us. and prayed us through the hard days. you make this crazy adventure i'm living more beautiful. i couldn't think of a better way to end the year. 

well. thats all i got. happy 2015 people.

i love you all.

BLESSED by a heavenly Daddy,

Shelby Elyse 

YOU make me BRAVE.

[ i will let You draw me out beyond the shore into your grace. as Your love in wave after wave crashes over me. crashes over me. for You are for us. You are not against. champion of heaven You made a way for all to enter in. You make me BRAVE. You make me BRAVE. You call me out beyond the shore into the waves. You make me BRAVE. You make me BRAVE. no fear can hinder now the promises You made. ] - amanda cook

my biannual MRI is next tuesday. you know. the one where we check on mr. brain tumor and make sure he's just chillin and not causing any issues beyond the migraines. i've been a weepy and grumpy mess for about a week now. i apologize to anyone who has to be around me before tuesday. haha i'm just not myself. it happens every time. this will never get easy. it never should. because this isn't normal. there should not be a tumor in my brain. but there is. our prayer this time is that i can go back to yearly scans. my tumor remains stable and last time he got a new name. i'm trying to put on a brave face and have confidence that everything is fine. but i also have to be realistic with myself. thankfully if everything isn't fine the Lord is still very good and very faithful. So i trust in Him no matter what. He makes me BRAVE.

a few days ago i was driving home under a setting sun. i was talking to God about my life. during these times i usually find myself telling him things and going "but you already know thats going on" and laughing at myself. but this was different. this was me saying "you know whats happening next but i don't yet and i hate it. i wish i could just have a glimpse." i am sure many of you have had these thoughts before. anyways. i decided to turn on my favorite Christian radio station Air1. [ if you don't listen to air1 you should. it is amazing music. lots of worship songs. and no weird commercials about windows and things. JUST SAYIN. ] anyways. one of my favorite songs by Brit Nicole was wrapping up and i was like "aww man i really would like to sing that right now" and then...

something new and pure began coming through my speakers. a song i had never heard but one that quickly caught my attention. the entire song was beautiful. but it was the bridge of the song that brought me to tears. it was simple [ You make me BRAVE. You make me BRAVE. You call me out beyond the shore into the waves. ] as i drove through misty eyes i just let the words sink in.

it was called You make me BRAVE. bethel music was the noted artist. when i got home i found it on itunes and began to listen over and over again. i googled the lyrics and found a video of the girl who wrote it explaining why she did. it was one of those moments when you go "hey God so i know you revealed that to her but i feel like she wrote it for me" and He is like "she did...well actually i did...trust me...stop being so afraid."

THOSE ARE THE BEST MOMENTS YOU GUYS.

i have listened all week. it is just so good. and so i decided to write about it. if you are surprised you don't know me well.

the english nerd within me looked up merriam-webster's definitions of brave::
 - having or showing courage
 - showing no fear

well. i don't quite live up to those standards yet. but i'm trying...or rather choosing.

i'm choosing to be brave. next tuesday. and in the days to come. it isn't easy. in fact some days it seems impossible. but the Lord knows my heart and He knows my days. so i really have nothing to fear. I will put my trust in Him and let Him make me BRAVE.

one of my favorite lines in the whole song says "you call me out beyond the shore into the waves." i feel like this couldn't be truer of my life. like i said before. this isn't normal. its uncomfortable. and an awkward subject. and sometimes if i think about it too long its absolutely terrifying that there is something inside my brain that has the ability to kill me. but God has called us to be uncomfortable. it is so easy to stand at the shore line. but when you enter into the waves and go through the hard times He is there to rescue. and that is a beautiful thought.

also...just to give you a laugh. i cried during a folgers coffee commercial yesterday and today as i watched one of my favorite shows a guy shaved his head and went into brain surgery and i sat in the living room and sobbed. #MYCRAZYISSHOWING

also...you guys. thank you for reading. and thank you for accepting these little glimpses into my heart. i hope i never come across as attention seeking or annoying. it is just that i am so thankful. and i truly believe the prayers i have received over the last 23 years have kept me alive.

well...thats all my brain has in it right now...well except my tumor...okay sorry bad joke wednesday. but really. time to go watch "i'll be home for christmas" ... you know the 1998 disney movie with the heartthrob total dream boat jonathan taylor thomas in it? yes. it's on netflix. and i'm gunna go watch it. you should too.

i love you all and i am so blessed by your sweet prayers as i walk this journey called life.

BLESSED by a heavenly Daddy,

Shelby Elyse

P.S. link to song below. listen. with tissues.

"my dad is roger taylor...he's the president."

OKAY BEFORE YOU READ...in the comments i need you to comment where you are in the world. my blog has been getting lots of traffic lately...and i really want to know where everyone is...and make sure my mom isn't clicking on it a thousand times to make me feel like i'm awesome or something.

OKAY CONTINUE ON...

my whole life people have stopped me...you look familiar...do i know you?

my response is always the same. "i look just like my dad. my dad is the president of cvca. dr. roger taylor." and then their faces light up "YES that is it...I LOVE RT!" it never fails. everyone loves him. and i am so so blessed.

my dad turns 60 on saturday. as i type that i can't believe it. oh my lamb he means more to me than many people will ever know. i love him so.

in september we had the amazing opportunity to throw him a giant surprise party for his 30 years at cvca. the day was beyond overwhelming. i decided to share the speech here i gave at that party...to maybe give you a little insight into just how amazing he is.

you are lucky people...on here you wont experience the dramatic bursts of tears or me shouting in the middle of my speech "i'm gunna need some water." YES. i tell the truth. never a dull moment with me around. oh and i should mention...it wasn't just me in tears. the whole place was in tears. Jordyn had to remind everyone that we werent giving eulogies.

here it goes.

Daddy,

There are so many things about you that I love. I really am not sure where to begin. From the moment I was born 23 years ago you have loved me unconditionally. You have been a prayer warrior, a best friend, a dad, a backyard baseball coach, a listener, a great example, and one of my hero’s. You have had the best qualities that Jordyn, Seth and I could ask for in a dad, and It didn’t take me long to realize that you have been this for many other people as well. Also, the three of us turned out pretty great…so I think you did the job!

Today marks 30 years of you being at “the academy” I am so thankful that the Lord called you to CVCA, and you have stayed here all these years. Dad, honestly, CVCA is my other family. This school, which was built upon Godly standards, and these people inside, helped shape me from the moment I was born and everyone there was praying for me. I do not know what life would be like if I hadn’t had the opportunity to come here. The people here have so elegantly represented what a Christian community looks like, and I had the incredible opportunity to literally grow up here, and watch some of these people become like family. Also, if you had never come here, you wouldn’t have ever been “RT.”

So I came up with 30 things in honor of 30 years. 15 of my favorite qualities about you, and 15 things that I love about you, that you have taught me, a favorite memory or two, and I may have added a few one liners from our favorite movie to keep you laughing, and to keep me from crying. And don’t worry people…I’ll talk as fast as I can. And mama t – don’t cut me off. I know you are the first lady, but as the first daughter I think I can exceed the time limit by a minute.

15 words that describe you

Godly

Husband

Servant

Compassionate

Humble

Genius

Encourager

Comedian

Father

Loving

Strong

Kind

Honest

Emotional – in all the best ways of course

Prayer Warrior

15 random things.

Thank you for loving mom so beautifully. I heard once that the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother well, and you have done just that.

Thank you for reading your bible every day, praying on your walks and continuously strengthening your relationship with the Lord. It has been an amazing example to me, as well as many others.

Thank you for teaching me that there is no greater singer in all the world than James Taylor, and thank you for dancing with me down on “copperline”

Let us not forget the inevitable board meeting night phone call…”hey dad, could you get me Wendy’s, I’m starving.”

Thank you for giving me your brown eyes. I love being your brown-eyed girl, and I forgive you for telling me you wrote the song and let Van Morrison record it.

  

Sunset Beach---It’s a “tradition unlike any other” and a  “vacation from our problems!”

Thank you for never giving up on me. And never letting me give up on myself. I can’t even count the times I said “dad I’m quitting…” to which you replied “have you ever quit anything before…we’re Taylor’s…we don’t quit.” “I don’t care I’m quitting.” …. and the next morning i would walk into the kitchen. “Alright FINE I wont quit.” and you always give me the roger affirmation look...to let me know i made the right decision.

  

Thank you for teaching that one spring day me that despite my best guess, there is a eagle and a birdie...but a hole in one in golf is not a “chick” 

Let us remember nights spent in the piano room with history books on the floor, ending with me in tears and mom having to say “she’s not getting her doctorate in this rog...she’s in the 8^th grade.”

  

"but what about bob!?" "dr. marvin? Dr. leo marvin? Oohhh the fam!” “you can call me RT in  my office…but in my home I’d like you to call me Dr. Taylor.” “Good Morning America’s Here!” 

Thank you for raising Jordyn and Seth the way you did…I could not have asked for better siblings.

Thank you for teaching me to clean my glasses off using clean underwear…and I’m sorry I told my kindergarten teacher…and I’m sorry I just told everyone here!

Thank you for showing me what a true Christian man, husband, father, son and brother looks like. You serve the Lord so well. I know it hasn’t always been easy, but you have always followed exactly what the Lord has asked of you. You are courageous, faithful, strong, and joyful in your walk with the Lord, and as a daughter I think that is the best thing in the whole world to watch.

Thank you for loving me so well through every obstacle. You have been such a rock for me dad. I know it hasn’t been easy for you, but you have put your game face on and walked with me through the unimaginable. I know my spunk and sass can be overwhelming sometimes, and I know I’m a total drama queen, but you have handled everything so well. Thank you also for always believing in me. I know I dream big and I’m a free spirit, and I know sometimes it scares you. But, not once have you ever told me that I couldn’t do something…even if it meant I had to learn the hard way. You are amazing dad. You are one in a million, and you mean more to me than you will ever know.

I love you very much, I think you are special and I am very proud of you!

Love, 

Shelby Elyse ... aka ... Weezer ... aka ... Trooper 

Well thanks for reading a little bit about my dad. he is pretty neat. 

Blessed by a heavenly Daddy, 

Shelby Elyse