So Sunday night, it iced and snowed here. I, of course, was not awake when it happened, but if I had to guess it iced first and then it snowed. The ice and snow just kind of froze together and Monday morning all of the sidewalks and roads and anything cement was covered in a layer of frozen ice and snow. I have never experienced anything like it in my life. Then last night it snowed again, but thankfully there was no ice. So now we have a layer of ice and snow frozen together with a layer of snow on top of that. It's just wonderful. And might I add that it's absolutely freezing, but that goes without saying. I think Monday morning it was eleven degrees, but with the wind chill it felt around zero.
I had to drive to the bank today, and I did all right. The parking lots are still covered in ice, but the main roads are clear. My mom said that my brother was out of school yesterday, and I wonder if they were out again today. The school system here was out yesterday and today.
What I hope is that it begins melting tomorrow and that by Thursday it's clear so I can leave on Thursday and not on Friday.
I had a friend who told me that it didn't snow here, it iced. I didn't believe her at first, but now I do. My friend Tarah was driving out to her house yesterday and did two spins as in full circles on her road because it was so slippery.
Anyway, I hope if it is icy and snowy where you are that you are staying warm and that you are careful.
I also had my first final today and that went rather well. I was done in around thirty minutes. Tomorrow I don't have anything, but Thursday I have two finals. Then I leave for my five week break. I'm so excited.
I'll post more later.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Let's a take a trip back in Time.....
So I was just googling stuff on the ole Internet and I found this thing that I know will be very precious for my roommate and my cousin who read my blog. They are my age and they will so know what I'm talking about with some of this stuff.
You're a 90's kid if:
You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE!"
You just cant resist finishing this... "Iiiiiiin west Philadelphia born and raised...
"You remember TGIF on ABC. Step by Step, Family Matters, Dinosaurs, and Boy Meets World."
Miss Susie had a steam boat, the steam boat had a bell..miss Suzie went to heaven the steamboat went to hell_o operator please give me number 9 and if you disconnect me i'll kick you from behind the fridgerator, there was a piece of glass, miss Suzie sat upon it and broke her little ***_k me no more questions, please tell me no more lies the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their flies, are in the city the bees are in the park .......................... miss Suzie and her boyfriend are kissing in the D-A-R-K- D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dar dar da dark"
You remember when Kurt Cobain, 2Pac, River Phoenix, and Selena died.
You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey from "Blossom" and that "How Rude!" comes from Stephanie from "Full House"
You remember falling in love with Kirk Cameron on "Growing Pains" and the wonderful show "Brotherly Love"
You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
You got super excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
You remember reading "Goosebumps"
You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school.
You danced to "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, Females: had a new motto, Males: got a whole lot gay-er. (so tell me what you want, what you really really want.)
You remember the craze, then the banning of slap bracelets and slam books.
You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence...Not...
You used to listen to the radio all day long just to record "Your FAVORITE song of ALL time"
Where in the world is Carmen San Diego? was both a game and a TV game show.
Captain Planet.
You knew that Kimberly, the pink ranger, and Tommy, the green Ranger were meant to be together.
When playing power rangers with friends you fought over who got to be who............and still all ended up being Tommy.
You remember when super Nintendo's became popular.
You always wanted to send in a tape to America's Funniest Home Videos... but never taped anything funny.
You remember watching home alone 1, 2 , and 3........and tried to pull the pranks on "intruders"
"I've fallen and I can't get up"
One word,"Pokemon"
When you have played and beaten mario brothers/duck hunt.
If you ever watch cheers.
You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates
if you remember when every thing was "da BOMB"
when they made the new lunchables so that you could make tacos and pizza!!
Your mom always had a bow, a scrunchy or a headband in your hair (what was really bad was when you wanted to wear one)
You wore socks over leggings scrunched down"Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, all dressed in black, black, black, with silver buttons, buttons, buttons, all down her back, back, back" SHE ASKED HER MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS CENTS CENTS TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS PHANTS PHANTS JUMP OVER THE FENCE THE FENCE THE FENCE he jumped so high high high he touched the sky sky sky and he didn't come back back back til the forth of July ly ly he jumped so low ow ow he stubbed his toe toe toe and that's the end end end of the elephants show show show
You remember boom boxes vs. cd players
Writing M.A.S.H. notes. (and the twenty different versions of that)
Making those little fortune cookie things.. and then predicting your life with them.
"I'm just joshin' ya!!"
You remember New Kids on The Block when they were cool
And You Were Obsessed with either N'sync or Backstreet Boys. But never NEVER both...
You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
You played and/or collected "Pogs"You had at least one Tamagotchi, GigaPet or Nano and brought it everywhere
You haven't always had a computer, and it was cool to have the Internet.
You watched the original Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Ninja Turtles
Yikes pencils and erasers were the stuff!
When boys still had cooties and girls were still weird.Girls go to college to get more knowledge, boys go to Jupider to get more stupider! Or the other way around.
All your school supplies were "Lisa Frank" brand.(pencils.notebooks.binders.etc.)
You remember when the new Beanie Babies and talking Elmo were always sold out.
You collected those Beanie Babies.
You used to wear those stick on earrings, not only on your ears, but at the corners of your eyes.
You remember a time before the WB.
You owned a portable tape player.If you even know what an original Walkman is.
You remember wanting to sit on the orange Nickelodeon couch.
You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"
You know the Macarena by heart.
"Talk to the hand" ... enough said
You always said, "Then why don't you marry it!"
You know the significance of the number 23. (go mj.)
You went to McDonald's to play in the playplace.
You remember playing on merry go rounds...at the play ground.
You remember dreaming to be on a Nickelodeon game show: Double Dare, Nick Arcade, GUTS, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Fun House, Figure It Out, ...
You all know you watched Hey Dude, and Salute Your Shorts...Remember and You Cant Do That On Television where getting slimed first started!
When we were younger:
Before the My Space and Facebook frenzy...
Before the Internet & text messaging...
Before Sidekicks & iPods...
Before cellphones.
Before PlayStation2 or X-BOX......
Back when you put off the 5 hours of homework you had every night.
When light up sneakers were cool.
When you rented VHS tapes, not DVDs.
When gas was $0.95 a gallon & Caller ID was a new thing.
When we recorded stuff on VCRs & paid $3.50 for a movie.
When we called the radio station to request songs to hear off our Walkmans.
When phone numbers were still 7 digits.
When Being a TOMBOY was "in".
When 2Pac and Biggie where alive.
When everyone loved Disney movies (and you fought over which princess you were)
When the Chicago Bulls were the best team ever.
Way back.
when it was all about N64.
Before we realized all this would eventually disappear
Who would have thought you'd miss the 90's so much!!!!!
I just thought some of these were hysterical. I remember so many of them. Like getting up to watch Recess, Pepper Ann, and Doug on One Saturday Morning. I miss TGIF so much. I haven't Boy Meets World in ages. What happened to all those old shows?
Anyway, anyone else who is older or younger probably wouldn't remember a lot of these, but for my roommate and my cousin, I hope you enjoyed them.
Well, that's enough for now. Have a Merry Christmas!!
You're a 90's kid if:
You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE!"
You just cant resist finishing this... "Iiiiiiin west Philadelphia born and raised...
"You remember TGIF on ABC. Step by Step, Family Matters, Dinosaurs, and Boy Meets World."
Miss Susie had a steam boat, the steam boat had a bell..miss Suzie went to heaven the steamboat went to hell_o operator please give me number 9 and if you disconnect me i'll kick you from behind the fridgerator, there was a piece of glass, miss Suzie sat upon it and broke her little ***_k me no more questions, please tell me no more lies the boys are in the bathroom zipping up their flies, are in the city the bees are in the park .......................... miss Suzie and her boyfriend are kissing in the D-A-R-K- D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dar dar da dark"
You remember when Kurt Cobain, 2Pac, River Phoenix, and Selena died.
You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey from "Blossom" and that "How Rude!" comes from Stephanie from "Full House"
You remember falling in love with Kirk Cameron on "Growing Pains" and the wonderful show "Brotherly Love"
You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.
You got super excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class at school.
You remember reading "Goosebumps"
You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school.
You danced to "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, Females: had a new motto, Males: got a whole lot gay-er. (so tell me what you want, what you really really want.)
You remember the craze, then the banning of slap bracelets and slam books.
You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence...Not...
You used to listen to the radio all day long just to record "Your FAVORITE song of ALL time"
Where in the world is Carmen San Diego? was both a game and a TV game show.
Captain Planet.
You knew that Kimberly, the pink ranger, and Tommy, the green Ranger were meant to be together.
When playing power rangers with friends you fought over who got to be who............and still all ended up being Tommy.
You remember when super Nintendo's became popular.
You always wanted to send in a tape to America's Funniest Home Videos... but never taped anything funny.
You remember watching home alone 1, 2 , and 3........and tried to pull the pranks on "intruders"
"I've fallen and I can't get up"
One word,"Pokemon"
When you have played and beaten mario brothers/duck hunt.
If you ever watch cheers.
You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates
if you remember when every thing was "da BOMB"
when they made the new lunchables so that you could make tacos and pizza!!
Your mom always had a bow, a scrunchy or a headband in your hair (what was really bad was when you wanted to wear one)
You wore socks over leggings scrunched down"Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, all dressed in black, black, black, with silver buttons, buttons, buttons, all down her back, back, back" SHE ASKED HER MOTHER MOTHER MOTHER FOR FIFTY CENTS CENTS CENTS TO SEE THE ELEPHANTS PHANTS PHANTS JUMP OVER THE FENCE THE FENCE THE FENCE he jumped so high high high he touched the sky sky sky and he didn't come back back back til the forth of July ly ly he jumped so low ow ow he stubbed his toe toe toe and that's the end end end of the elephants show show show
You remember boom boxes vs. cd players
Writing M.A.S.H. notes. (and the twenty different versions of that)
Making those little fortune cookie things.. and then predicting your life with them.
"I'm just joshin' ya!!"
You remember New Kids on The Block when they were cool
And You Were Obsessed with either N'sync or Backstreet Boys. But never NEVER both...
You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
You played and/or collected "Pogs"You had at least one Tamagotchi, GigaPet or Nano and brought it everywhere
You haven't always had a computer, and it was cool to have the Internet.
You watched the original Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Ninja Turtles
Yikes pencils and erasers were the stuff!
When boys still had cooties and girls were still weird.Girls go to college to get more knowledge, boys go to Jupider to get more stupider! Or the other way around.
All your school supplies were "Lisa Frank" brand.(pencils.notebooks.binders.etc.)
You remember when the new Beanie Babies and talking Elmo were always sold out.
You collected those Beanie Babies.
You used to wear those stick on earrings, not only on your ears, but at the corners of your eyes.
You remember a time before the WB.
You owned a portable tape player.If you even know what an original Walkman is.
You remember wanting to sit on the orange Nickelodeon couch.
You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"
You know the Macarena by heart.
"Talk to the hand" ... enough said
You always said, "Then why don't you marry it!"
You know the significance of the number 23. (go mj.)
You went to McDonald's to play in the playplace.
You remember playing on merry go rounds...at the play ground.
You remember dreaming to be on a Nickelodeon game show: Double Dare, Nick Arcade, GUTS, Legends of the Hidden Temple, Fun House, Figure It Out, ...
You all know you watched Hey Dude, and Salute Your Shorts...Remember and You Cant Do That On Television where getting slimed first started!
When we were younger:
Before the My Space and Facebook frenzy...
Before the Internet & text messaging...
Before Sidekicks & iPods...
Before cellphones.
Before PlayStation2 or X-BOX......
Back when you put off the 5 hours of homework you had every night.
When light up sneakers were cool.
When you rented VHS tapes, not DVDs.
When gas was $0.95 a gallon & Caller ID was a new thing.
When we recorded stuff on VCRs & paid $3.50 for a movie.
When we called the radio station to request songs to hear off our Walkmans.
When phone numbers were still 7 digits.
When Being a TOMBOY was "in".
When 2Pac and Biggie where alive.
When everyone loved Disney movies (and you fought over which princess you were)
When the Chicago Bulls were the best team ever.
Way back.
when it was all about N64.
Before we realized all this would eventually disappear
Who would have thought you'd miss the 90's so much!!!!!
I just thought some of these were hysterical. I remember so many of them. Like getting up to watch Recess, Pepper Ann, and Doug on One Saturday Morning. I miss TGIF so much. I haven't Boy Meets World in ages. What happened to all those old shows?
Anyway, anyone else who is older or younger probably wouldn't remember a lot of these, but for my roommate and my cousin, I hope you enjoyed them.
Well, that's enough for now. Have a Merry Christmas!!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
One More Week!!!!
I only have one more week of my first semester of college, and then I'm done. I'm so excited. I had my fit and well final today and I was done in ten minutes. It was really easy. So I'm done with that class. Yea! Next week I have my government final on Tuesday and then my English and algebra finals on Thursday. Then I'm leaving on Thursday.
Last night was the Shane & Shane concert with Bethany Dillon and Phil Wickham. It was a really good concert. Bethany Dillon is actually married to one of the "Shane's." She's married to Shane Bernard, and the funny thing is she's eighteen and he's thirty-two. I remembered reading about that somewhere, but it was kind of funny seeing them on stage together because to be honest, he is kind of old. Like my roommate said, though, in a few years it won't be as weird.
I can tell it's that time in the year where I'm ready for new classes, and I'm ready for a break. I can tell that I'm lagging, I'm not really motivated to do anything, and I'm just tired of going to school. I think after the break, though, I'll be ready for new classes and new teachers. Keep praying about me being an RA. I would really love to be able to do that.
Well, I'm going to go to the Wellness Center to work-out. I'm trying to start being more motivated about that, but we all know how that goes. God Bless.
Last night was the Shane & Shane concert with Bethany Dillon and Phil Wickham. It was a really good concert. Bethany Dillon is actually married to one of the "Shane's." She's married to Shane Bernard, and the funny thing is she's eighteen and he's thirty-two. I remembered reading about that somewhere, but it was kind of funny seeing them on stage together because to be honest, he is kind of old. Like my roommate said, though, in a few years it won't be as weird.
I can tell it's that time in the year where I'm ready for new classes, and I'm ready for a break. I can tell that I'm lagging, I'm not really motivated to do anything, and I'm just tired of going to school. I think after the break, though, I'll be ready for new classes and new teachers. Keep praying about me being an RA. I would really love to be able to do that.
Well, I'm going to go to the Wellness Center to work-out. I'm trying to start being more motivated about that, but we all know how that goes. God Bless.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thanksgiving at Christmas
I was thinking today about all the things I have to be thankful for. A family who loves me, friends who I can have fun with, and an awesome Lord and Savior who loves me no matter what. But more than that I thought about the little things I am thankful for. Food to eat (and sometimes of which I eat too much when other people around the world have none), clothes to wear, a soft, warm bed to sleep in, shelter from snow and cold and wind, money in my checking account; however little it may seem, my three cousins in Tulsa, two who are little and one who is my age, my aunt and uncle in Tulsa, and I'm also very thankful for my health.
Everyone is so thankful and grateful around November and Thanksgiving, but when Christmas gets here, it's "gimme, gimme, gimme." How one month can change things. And isn't it kind of paradoxical that we celebrate how thankful we are for how much we have on Thanksgiving, but the following day, "Black Friday," we wake up at a ridiculous hour in the morning to stand in line for more stuff. I thought we were all just so thankful and that we couldn't ask for one more thing in the world. Tell that to the guy who was trampled at the Wal-Mart in Queens, New York.
I love Christmas, don't get me wrong, but I think we overlook the Jesus part of it which is really all of it. I'm very thankful that two thousand years ago a young, innocent girl had the humility and the faith to bring Jesus Christ into the world. She told the Lord that whatever he wanted she would do. Joseph had the courage and the faith to trust in the Lord even when it would've been okay in that day to shun Mary since she was supposed to be pure until they were married, although he didn't know what was happening yet. Just the same, the two of them weren't very old and they didn't have much experience with life. But they had an awesome amount of faith and courage. I'm thankful for them and their example.
So yeah, Santa and Frosty and Rudolph and presents are great, but don't overlook why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. And count your blessings, even though Thanksgiving is over.
Other than that, school is going well. I had a test today and then I have another test on Thursday which is actually a final that we're taking early. God keeps showing me how amazing he is in the little things I'm learning. I'm starting to realize that He is my best friend. I can tell him anything and go to him at any time of day or night and he doesn't care if I interrupt his slumber because he doesn't sleep. He's just a great God.
Well, I'm going to call it a night. I hope you have a very Thankful Christmas.
Everyone is so thankful and grateful around November and Thanksgiving, but when Christmas gets here, it's "gimme, gimme, gimme." How one month can change things. And isn't it kind of paradoxical that we celebrate how thankful we are for how much we have on Thanksgiving, but the following day, "Black Friday," we wake up at a ridiculous hour in the morning to stand in line for more stuff. I thought we were all just so thankful and that we couldn't ask for one more thing in the world. Tell that to the guy who was trampled at the Wal-Mart in Queens, New York.
I love Christmas, don't get me wrong, but I think we overlook the Jesus part of it which is really all of it. I'm very thankful that two thousand years ago a young, innocent girl had the humility and the faith to bring Jesus Christ into the world. She told the Lord that whatever he wanted she would do. Joseph had the courage and the faith to trust in the Lord even when it would've been okay in that day to shun Mary since she was supposed to be pure until they were married, although he didn't know what was happening yet. Just the same, the two of them weren't very old and they didn't have much experience with life. But they had an awesome amount of faith and courage. I'm thankful for them and their example.
So yeah, Santa and Frosty and Rudolph and presents are great, but don't overlook why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. And count your blessings, even though Thanksgiving is over.
Other than that, school is going well. I had a test today and then I have another test on Thursday which is actually a final that we're taking early. God keeps showing me how amazing he is in the little things I'm learning. I'm starting to realize that He is my best friend. I can tell him anything and go to him at any time of day or night and he doesn't care if I interrupt his slumber because he doesn't sleep. He's just a great God.
Well, I'm going to call it a night. I hope you have a very Thankful Christmas.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
My Last Week of Classes!
So this semester has absolutely flown by. I can't believe that my last week of classes is this week. It seems like I was just starting college yesterday. Time sure does fly by fast.
I have two tests this week, and then I have three finals during finals week. This week here at college is our Christmas Festivities Week. There is something going on everyday, and that's super exciting. Tonight I'm going to watch a concert held our chapel of the symphonic winds, the orchestra, and the high school and college chorals. I'm sure it will be great.
Keep praying for me about the whole waiting situation with guys, my major, and just life. I think the five week break will be a definite time of relaxation and reflection for me.
This morning I went to a church that I had been to about a month ago, and I enjoyed it again today. The pastor talked about making the word of God an everyday part of your life. I will admit that I'm reading my Bible more now than I was this time last year. I think I was just too busy last year (which is no excuse), but this is the first time in my life that I know I wouldn't survive without God's word. It's become an essential to my life.
One of my cousins posted on her blog that she was tired of all of the consumerism of Christmas. I agree with her. I wanted to add something that a recent speaker at my college said. He was talking about how it would cost around 10 billion dollars to install water systems that work in third world countries all over the world. I don't know if that is one system or multiple, but it doesn't matter. Last year, Americans spent $450 billion dollars on Christmas, and I was right there in the middle of it. But we spent all that money celebrating a man who told us to be self-less. Yes, I know that the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, but that wasn't until he was between the ages of one and three. No where in the Bible is giving gifts at Christmas time mentioned. We don't even really know when Christ was born.
What I'm saying is that we could do things a lot different during this Christmas season. Instead of buying over hundreds of dollars of presents for people who probably don't need them, give money to a family who can't even have Christmas dinner. Do something Christ would do to really celebrate his birth.
Well, anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. I need to get ready for the concert. I will post more later.
Merry Christmas.
I have two tests this week, and then I have three finals during finals week. This week here at college is our Christmas Festivities Week. There is something going on everyday, and that's super exciting. Tonight I'm going to watch a concert held our chapel of the symphonic winds, the orchestra, and the high school and college chorals. I'm sure it will be great.
Keep praying for me about the whole waiting situation with guys, my major, and just life. I think the five week break will be a definite time of relaxation and reflection for me.
This morning I went to a church that I had been to about a month ago, and I enjoyed it again today. The pastor talked about making the word of God an everyday part of your life. I will admit that I'm reading my Bible more now than I was this time last year. I think I was just too busy last year (which is no excuse), but this is the first time in my life that I know I wouldn't survive without God's word. It's become an essential to my life.
One of my cousins posted on her blog that she was tired of all of the consumerism of Christmas. I agree with her. I wanted to add something that a recent speaker at my college said. He was talking about how it would cost around 10 billion dollars to install water systems that work in third world countries all over the world. I don't know if that is one system or multiple, but it doesn't matter. Last year, Americans spent $450 billion dollars on Christmas, and I was right there in the middle of it. But we spent all that money celebrating a man who told us to be self-less. Yes, I know that the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, but that wasn't until he was between the ages of one and three. No where in the Bible is giving gifts at Christmas time mentioned. We don't even really know when Christ was born.
What I'm saying is that we could do things a lot different during this Christmas season. Instead of buying over hundreds of dollars of presents for people who probably don't need them, give money to a family who can't even have Christmas dinner. Do something Christ would do to really celebrate his birth.
Well, anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. I need to get ready for the concert. I will post more later.
Merry Christmas.
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Weekend's Here
So tonight there may be a movie night in my room. I may be having a few girls over to my room and we might make chocolate covered pretzels with white almond bark. We may watch some Audrey Hepburn movies and enjoy being lazy. It's still really cold here, but at least today it is sunny. Yesterday my friend Tarah and I went to the park. I had some old bread that wasn't moldy, but I didn't want to eat it anymore. So we went to the park and gave the ducks and geese and swans some bread. We were barely out of the car when they started charging us. They knew we had bread and they knew we were going to give it to them. They were chasing us. It was so funny. We went back to the park when it turned dark to drive through the park because it's decorated with Christmas lights and decorations. It was so pretty. They did a really good job of decorating it.
Tomorrow I have to study for a test I have on Tuesday. I need to read some books, well actually finish them. Then tomorrow night OU plays Mizzou. Go OU. I want to see them make it to the championship so badly. But since OU is number 2 and Mizzou is number 20, I'm leaning toward OU. There is also a basketball game here tomorrow night, so I might so to that too. I'm not sure.
This week went pretty good. I think I'm actually understanding college algebra a little bit more. At first, this new section we started was a little overbearing. I was pretty upset last night, but today in class cleared things up.
Next week there's a ton of Christmas activities going on here. I'm really excited. The highlight of the week has to be the Shane & Shane Christmas tour that will be here on Wednesday. Phil Wickham and Bethany Dillon will also be here. I can't wait. I love all of those artists so much.
I've just been praying that God will give me the extra strength and patience to get through these last two weeks of school. I want to be done so bad. I know he will though for he is so good. Even though "my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26). I love that verse so much. I've been reading in Psalms and I found that one the other day.
Well, stay warm and enjoy the Christmas season, but don't forget about the meaning.
God Bless.
Tomorrow I have to study for a test I have on Tuesday. I need to read some books, well actually finish them. Then tomorrow night OU plays Mizzou. Go OU. I want to see them make it to the championship so badly. But since OU is number 2 and Mizzou is number 20, I'm leaning toward OU. There is also a basketball game here tomorrow night, so I might so to that too. I'm not sure.
This week went pretty good. I think I'm actually understanding college algebra a little bit more. At first, this new section we started was a little overbearing. I was pretty upset last night, but today in class cleared things up.
Next week there's a ton of Christmas activities going on here. I'm really excited. The highlight of the week has to be the Shane & Shane Christmas tour that will be here on Wednesday. Phil Wickham and Bethany Dillon will also be here. I can't wait. I love all of those artists so much.
I've just been praying that God will give me the extra strength and patience to get through these last two weeks of school. I want to be done so bad. I know he will though for he is so good. Even though "my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26). I love that verse so much. I've been reading in Psalms and I found that one the other day.
Well, stay warm and enjoy the Christmas season, but don't forget about the meaning.
God Bless.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Gray, Cold, . . . It's a Blah Day.
So today it's cold, dreary, a little misty, gray, and did I mention really cold? I'm still not used to the weather up here. I do have some good news though. I finished my English research paper that's due tomorrow, last night at around twelve thirty. I'm so glad to have that out of the way. I also only have four more class periods in College Algebra, five if you count the final. The lectures are over in American Government, only having tests left. It's weird to think I won't have these classes next semester when in high school the classes you took were all year courses. But I'm kind of glad too. I couldn't imagine being in another semester of College Algebra.
I mentioned earlier on another post that one of my professors is going through a tough time right now with his foster daughter. I found out today some dates you can for and pray on when they roll around. One of the dates is this Friday at three o' clock. The other date is January 2. Just pray that everything works according to God's will and that the daughter is placed in the safest environment. This family is very broken over the whole ordeal.
Well, I don't really have much else to say. I'll post more later.
God Bless.
I mentioned earlier on another post that one of my professors is going through a tough time right now with his foster daughter. I found out today some dates you can for and pray on when they roll around. One of the dates is this Friday at three o' clock. The other date is January 2. Just pray that everything works according to God's will and that the daughter is placed in the safest environment. This family is very broken over the whole ordeal.
Well, I don't really have much else to say. I'll post more later.
God Bless.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Back At College!
Well, my Thanksgiving was different than any I had experienced before. We usually have a lot of people at my house, and this year we had a lot less than usual. My mom didn't mind, but I missed seeing everyone. A good thing that came of it was that I got to go to my aunt's and see my aunt and uncle and their two beautiful boys. It was so good to see them. I let my aunt and uncle go to a movie the second night I stayed with them, and the boys and I made Christmas cookies. We had a lot of food. The next day, my dad came and got me and we went to my high school's semi-final football game. We lost by one point unfortunately. I was pretty disappointed because the referees were kind of partial and I thought they probably rode down on the bus with the team we were playing. Oh well.
Anyway, I have two weeks of classes then I have finals week. I only have three finals and then I will be home for Christmas break for five weeks. That is such a long break. I'm going to work though to earn some much needed money.
I went to our old church this morning. It was kind of weird, in a way. I don't really know how I thought it would be, but it was just different. I'm just going to a stage in life where everything is weird. My brother is in full-fledged puberty, I'm still adjusting to college, and I'm still looking for a home church here. Weird is just my word.
It started out snowing this morning before we went to church in my hometown. Now it's still snowing at college. I had to drive back in it and thank goodness the roads weren't bad.
By the way, you're probably wondering why I keep changing my background. I just couldn't find one I like, but now I think I've found one I like.
Here is a picture of the boys making cookies. (Well, they were actually eating more of their decorations than were landing on the cookies. But they still turned out good.)
See what I mean. I caught a picture of them
eating. They're just too cute.
This was that night before the boys went to bed. Here is B posing with one of his Mommy's shoes on.
Here they are being cute 
with mommy's shoes.
with mommy's shoes.Thursday, November 20, 2008
It's Christmas Time...Well Almost!!!
My roommate and I decorated our room tonight. We set up our tree. Well, it's really my roommate's tree that's about three feet tall. We set it on her desk and decorated it in what way we could. We to
ok some pictures too. 
This will be my last post before Thanksgiving break. I will be home a week and will be without the Internet. I will have lots to post when I get back so I guess Happy Thanksgiving.
ok some pictures too. We put jelly penguins and decorations on our windows.
More window decorations.
McCain and Palin didn't win, but we
will take any decorations for our poor tree that we can get.
This is our tree.
This will be my last post before Thanksgiving break. I will be home a week and will be without the Internet. I will have lots to post when I get back so I guess Happy Thanksgiving.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Going Back to the Basics
Where to begin...The last couple of days have been kind of crazy for me. I've had tests and just different things going on with life. I'm usually not this open on my blog, but I feel like I need to be more real sometimes, so here we go.
For a long time, I've been waiting for the man God has for me. I made a commitment when I was younger that I was going to wait for God and his timing. That's partly why I started this blog: to show how I was going to worship in the wait instead of worry. Well, being here at college is so different from high school. There are a lot more guys and my mind has just gone crazy. It's not like I'm out searching for "the one", but it doesn't stop my brain from wondering. Today I went to the park again (the only real place I feel I can go in this town that I am closest to God), and I just prayed and walked. I think sometimes we think we have to make being a follower of Christ so difficult, when really it's very simple. But anyway, on Wednesday nights I've been involved with a youth ministry called Whitehouse. It's for high school students who come from tough backgrounds, and it's just a place for them to be accepted. During the song service, God just spoke to me and reminded me that it's not about me. As much as I want to worry about my future and who I'm going to marry and what I'm going to be doing in five years, it's not about me. It's about Him. I'm supposed to trust Him and let it all work out. That was easy in high school. I thought I had the trusting thing down-pat. College is a whole new story. I feel like I have to learn how to trust all over again because my "high school bubble" has popped and the world is suddenly a lot bigger.
God reminded me tonight that he has to be my first love. He has to occupy my thoughts 24/7 and be the one I obsess about. I do want an earthly romance, but the need for my romance with God is so much greater. I hear so many girls say that God is their completion and their all-in-all, and that they don't need a guy. I'm not there yet. I want to be there, but I'm not there yet. This is one of my greatest struggles without a doubt. But I have chosen to wait and nothing can stop me from waiting for the love story God has planned for me.
I've been reading through the Bible lately, just a book-by-book thing and I just finished the book of Daniel today. (Great book.) Anyway, I know that we've all heard the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den when we were kids, but go back and read that one again. There is a verse in that story that I didn't remember from when I had heard it as a kid. "The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" Daniel 6:23. I don't know about you, but that's some pretty darn good trustin' right there. Lions are hungry creatures, and for him to come out of there with no wound, no scratch, nothing; that's only a work of God. That's the kind of trust I have to have. A faith and a trust that can withstand the blows from the enemy because they are dealt everyday.
Another verse I have found myself repeating quite often is one I discovered while reading Lamentations. (That's a great book too.) "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him" Lamentations 3:24. He is my portion. He is enough. I will wait for him. That's a great deal of comfort for me so often. One of my friends and I have been talking lately about how it's so hard to trust God and know his arms are around us when we can't physically reach out and touch him. Yes, it is hard, but that's where a God-sized amount of faith comes into play.
College has made me think so much. I have thought more about the meaning of life the past four months than I have my entire life. So much has changed and I've had my faith tested so much. I still say college is weird. It's a growing time, changing time, maturing time, and it's just down right weird. But it's a good weird. It's definitely better than high school, that's for sure, but I never thought it would be like this.
So if you're a praying person, pray that my focus stays one hundred percent on God. It's kind of funny how we bring so much into being a follower of Christ. The basic things are to love God, love others, and put them first. I want God to be my focus, my passion, my heart's desire before anything else in this world. Pray that this fervor inside of me will not die. God is more real to me now than he ever has been. And until more of my future is revealed to me in His timing, I will worship in the waiting.
For a long time, I've been waiting for the man God has for me. I made a commitment when I was younger that I was going to wait for God and his timing. That's partly why I started this blog: to show how I was going to worship in the wait instead of worry. Well, being here at college is so different from high school. There are a lot more guys and my mind has just gone crazy. It's not like I'm out searching for "the one", but it doesn't stop my brain from wondering. Today I went to the park again (the only real place I feel I can go in this town that I am closest to God), and I just prayed and walked. I think sometimes we think we have to make being a follower of Christ so difficult, when really it's very simple. But anyway, on Wednesday nights I've been involved with a youth ministry called Whitehouse. It's for high school students who come from tough backgrounds, and it's just a place for them to be accepted. During the song service, God just spoke to me and reminded me that it's not about me. As much as I want to worry about my future and who I'm going to marry and what I'm going to be doing in five years, it's not about me. It's about Him. I'm supposed to trust Him and let it all work out. That was easy in high school. I thought I had the trusting thing down-pat. College is a whole new story. I feel like I have to learn how to trust all over again because my "high school bubble" has popped and the world is suddenly a lot bigger.
God reminded me tonight that he has to be my first love. He has to occupy my thoughts 24/7 and be the one I obsess about. I do want an earthly romance, but the need for my romance with God is so much greater. I hear so many girls say that God is their completion and their all-in-all, and that they don't need a guy. I'm not there yet. I want to be there, but I'm not there yet. This is one of my greatest struggles without a doubt. But I have chosen to wait and nothing can stop me from waiting for the love story God has planned for me.
I've been reading through the Bible lately, just a book-by-book thing and I just finished the book of Daniel today. (Great book.) Anyway, I know that we've all heard the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den when we were kids, but go back and read that one again. There is a verse in that story that I didn't remember from when I had heard it as a kid. "The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God" Daniel 6:23. I don't know about you, but that's some pretty darn good trustin' right there. Lions are hungry creatures, and for him to come out of there with no wound, no scratch, nothing; that's only a work of God. That's the kind of trust I have to have. A faith and a trust that can withstand the blows from the enemy because they are dealt everyday.
Another verse I have found myself repeating quite often is one I discovered while reading Lamentations. (That's a great book too.) "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him" Lamentations 3:24. He is my portion. He is enough. I will wait for him. That's a great deal of comfort for me so often. One of my friends and I have been talking lately about how it's so hard to trust God and know his arms are around us when we can't physically reach out and touch him. Yes, it is hard, but that's where a God-sized amount of faith comes into play.
College has made me think so much. I have thought more about the meaning of life the past four months than I have my entire life. So much has changed and I've had my faith tested so much. I still say college is weird. It's a growing time, changing time, maturing time, and it's just down right weird. But it's a good weird. It's definitely better than high school, that's for sure, but I never thought it would be like this.
So if you're a praying person, pray that my focus stays one hundred percent on God. It's kind of funny how we bring so much into being a follower of Christ. The basic things are to love God, love others, and put them first. I want God to be my focus, my passion, my heart's desire before anything else in this world. Pray that this fervor inside of me will not die. God is more real to me now than he ever has been. And until more of my future is revealed to me in His timing, I will worship in the waiting.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Almost Here
Thanksgiving break is almost here, and I can't wait to be out of school for a week. I won't know what to do with myself. Well, actually I will know what to do. I'm going to be visiting people I haven't seen in a long time, I'm going to the school to see old teachers and counselors, I'm going to our second playoff football game, I'm going to watch my cousin sing in a concert, I'm going to help my mom clean for Thanksgiving, and then we'll have Thanksgiving. And I think that following Saturday is the bedlam game between OU and OSU. That'll be a game to watch. Oh, and I think OU plays Texas Tech this weekend so that will be good too. And since I'm home for two weekends over the break, I'm going to our old church the second weekend of the break. My mom will be working so she won't miss me too much, and my dad will have seen me all week. I miss so many people from our old church and I can't wait to see them all.
Well, today I took two of my three tests for the week, so I'll just have to take my college algebra test tomorrow and then I can relax. I also have my post-testing for Fitness and Wellness on Thursday when I'll have to walk/run the 1.5 mile again. Oh, well. I did go to the work-out room yesterday and did three miles on the elliptical. It was a little over thirty minutes. I'm not sore today, but I probably will be tomorrow. I hadn't really worked out for like two weeks, and my legs were like, "What are you doing?" But it was good, and I felt good afterwards.
I need people to pray about something for me. One of my professors here at the college is going through a tough time. Right now his family is a foster family to a ten-month old little girl. Well, they want to adopt her, but the birth mother wants her back, but the birth mother's situation is not a healthy one. Just pray that a miracle happens and that they get to adopt the baby girl if it is God's will. He's been telling us about her since the beginning of the semester and it's definitely something that is weighing heavy on his whole family. I know from experience what a blessing adoption can be from my aunt and uncle adopting my two little cousins, so I ask all of you to pray.
Well, I've got a wonderful college algebra test to study for and then I'm off to volunteer at Alpha House. God Bless.
Well, today I took two of my three tests for the week, so I'll just have to take my college algebra test tomorrow and then I can relax. I also have my post-testing for Fitness and Wellness on Thursday when I'll have to walk/run the 1.5 mile again. Oh, well. I did go to the work-out room yesterday and did three miles on the elliptical. It was a little over thirty minutes. I'm not sore today, but I probably will be tomorrow. I hadn't really worked out for like two weeks, and my legs were like, "What are you doing?" But it was good, and I felt good afterwards.
I need people to pray about something for me. One of my professors here at the college is going through a tough time. Right now his family is a foster family to a ten-month old little girl. Well, they want to adopt her, but the birth mother wants her back, but the birth mother's situation is not a healthy one. Just pray that a miracle happens and that they get to adopt the baby girl if it is God's will. He's been telling us about her since the beginning of the semester and it's definitely something that is weighing heavy on his whole family. I know from experience what a blessing adoption can be from my aunt and uncle adopting my two little cousins, so I ask all of you to pray.
Well, I've got a wonderful college algebra test to study for and then I'm off to volunteer at Alpha House. God Bless.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Lots of Stuff
I've been thinking about being an RA next year. When you are an RA here, you get room and board paid for which means I wouldn't have to pay for housing or any of my meals. That would be a great blessing.
This last Wednesday here at Chapel we had special speaker Mike Yankowski, author of Under the Overpass. He spoke at Chapel and he spoke Wednesday night. It was so good to hear him speak. His book is about when he and a friend spent five months going to six different U.S. cities and yes, they became homeless for five months. They went to Denver, Washington, D.C., Portland, San Fransisco, San Diego, and Phoenix. They spent around three weeks at each city. They learned so much about going from selfishness to selflessness. He's a great speaker. Another thing he does is that he's a partner with Compassion International. He came with a table of children to sponsor, and my friend Tarah and I decided to sponsor a little girl. She's from Indonesia and her name is Devi. She's seven years old. I'm so excited to get to be doing this. One of the things he talked about was living on less. It takes $32 a month to sponsor a child and we are going to split that so it will be sixteen dollars a month for each of us. That's not too much, but we've already caught ourselves not spending money on things to save for Devi.
Next week I have three tests. I have an American Government test, a Fit and Well test, and a college algebra test. And I also have my post-test for fit and well where we have to run/walk 1.5 miles. I'm not excited for that. Fun, fun. Oh well, I'll just have to keep plugging on until Thanksgiving break. I have a week off and I'm so excited.
I've also been asked to help lead a Bible study for a camp this next summer. I attended the camp last summer. It's a camp for children whose parents are in prisons all over Oklahoma. I'm really excited for that too. My dad is even thinking about coming as a sponsor next summer too. I hope he gets to. It would be good for the kids to see an awesome man of God.
So much stuff is going on. I look back on what I was doing this time last year, and I didn't even know where I was going to college. Now I'm in college. God is so good and provides in ways we never expect. I'm learning to depend on him and trust him in everything. I praise him that he's a faithful God. I don't deserve his love or grace, but he never fails to lavish them on me. It's a great mystery, this love of God, and I pray that it never loses that mystery.
Well, I think I've rambled long enough. Have a safe and blessed weekend.
This last Wednesday here at Chapel we had special speaker Mike Yankowski, author of Under the Overpass. He spoke at Chapel and he spoke Wednesday night. It was so good to hear him speak. His book is about when he and a friend spent five months going to six different U.S. cities and yes, they became homeless for five months. They went to Denver, Washington, D.C., Portland, San Fransisco, San Diego, and Phoenix. They spent around three weeks at each city. They learned so much about going from selfishness to selflessness. He's a great speaker. Another thing he does is that he's a partner with Compassion International. He came with a table of children to sponsor, and my friend Tarah and I decided to sponsor a little girl. She's from Indonesia and her name is Devi. She's seven years old. I'm so excited to get to be doing this. One of the things he talked about was living on less. It takes $32 a month to sponsor a child and we are going to split that so it will be sixteen dollars a month for each of us. That's not too much, but we've already caught ourselves not spending money on things to save for Devi.
Next week I have three tests. I have an American Government test, a Fit and Well test, and a college algebra test. And I also have my post-test for fit and well where we have to run/walk 1.5 miles. I'm not excited for that. Fun, fun. Oh well, I'll just have to keep plugging on until Thanksgiving break. I have a week off and I'm so excited.
I've also been asked to help lead a Bible study for a camp this next summer. I attended the camp last summer. It's a camp for children whose parents are in prisons all over Oklahoma. I'm really excited for that too. My dad is even thinking about coming as a sponsor next summer too. I hope he gets to. It would be good for the kids to see an awesome man of God.
So much stuff is going on. I look back on what I was doing this time last year, and I didn't even know where I was going to college. Now I'm in college. God is so good and provides in ways we never expect. I'm learning to depend on him and trust him in everything. I praise him that he's a faithful God. I don't deserve his love or grace, but he never fails to lavish them on me. It's a great mystery, this love of God, and I pray that it never loses that mystery.
Well, I think I've rambled long enough. Have a safe and blessed weekend.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Pictures
So I charged some batteries, and now I have pictures.
These first two are a front and kind of a side view.
This picture is a back/side view.
Anyway, kind of a random post, but I just wanted to post pictures. God Bless.
Surprise!!!!
I went home this past weekend, and I surprised my mom for her birthday. My dad and brother took her to Olive Garden for her birthday, and it's only like an hour and a half from here. I showed up around thirty minutes before they did and hid in a back room. It's a room in the restaurant that if you're in the right place no one can see you as they walk in. I was so jittery waiting for them. When they arrived, the manager told me they were there and that they were going to take their drink orders first. So I waited for around five more minutes and then they came and got me. I walked out behind all the waiters and waitresses and followed them down to my family's table. They had seated my mom facing the wall so she couldn't see me. My brother saw me first and I put my finger to my mouth to shush him. They started singing the Bona Fetcha song, which I guess is Happy Birthday in Italian, and about halfway through the song, I slid into the booth across from my mom. We both couldn't say anything for a minute because if we did we would've both started crying. She just got this really big smile on her face with a really bewildered look. She asked me if I was going back to college that night, and we had to remind her that it was Thursday and that I was staying for the weekend. She was really happy.
On Friday, we went down to where my dad hunts and cleaned out brush and trees so he could see deer better. We got up in his tree stand and you can see pretty far. He's in a pretty good spot. He's in the farthest corner of our property as he could get with still being legal. It's kind of funny. That night we went to watch the last football game of the normal season. It was against our big rival team. We ended up winning, but it wasn't a very good game. It was good though because now they are undefeated and we have been our big rival for five years in a row. They will be in a playoff game this Friday, but they're going to have to play a lot better than they did last Friday if they plan on winning. I was kind of disappointed. I also got my hair cut on Friday and it's super cute. I love it. It's so light, and I can wash and dry and fix it in less than ten minutes. It's great. It's the shortest I've ever had it. I would have pictures up, but my camera's dead so I'll have to charge the batteries.
We kind of just hung around the house on Saturday. That night we went and saw Madagascar 2 which I was kind of disappointed in too. I thought it was going to be funny like the first one, but it was very culturally relevant. I had a heard a review from someone from Focus on the Family that it wasn't very family friendly. They had given it a 2 1/2 out of 5. I understand what they meant now.
Church was good on Sunday. It was a salute to the veterans. It was good, but I think my first weekend home for Thanksgiving break I'm going back to our old church for one Sunday. I miss everyone there and I want to see people. I'm so excited for Thanksgiving break. It's in two weeks, and I'll be home for one whole week. I had thought about working for three days, but I want to see people and visit with people. I'm going to save the working for Christmas break when I'm home for 5 weeks.
I also have good news of God's blessings. I had received two scholarships that came from my Indian program, but my account was already paid in full so I was refunded for the scholarships and opened a savings account with the money. I had planned on doing it, and God blessed me with that. Now I have money for next semester already waiting to be paid. God is so good.
Yesterday was the first day I came home without getting teary-eyed in my truck after I left. The first two times were kind of hard, but I think it's getting easier. I have been praying about it a lot. I know God helped me yesterday.
Well, I will post more later, but right now I've got to prepare for tomorrow's classes. God Bless.
On Friday, we went down to where my dad hunts and cleaned out brush and trees so he could see deer better. We got up in his tree stand and you can see pretty far. He's in a pretty good spot. He's in the farthest corner of our property as he could get with still being legal. It's kind of funny. That night we went to watch the last football game of the normal season. It was against our big rival team. We ended up winning, but it wasn't a very good game. It was good though because now they are undefeated and we have been our big rival for five years in a row. They will be in a playoff game this Friday, but they're going to have to play a lot better than they did last Friday if they plan on winning. I was kind of disappointed. I also got my hair cut on Friday and it's super cute. I love it. It's so light, and I can wash and dry and fix it in less than ten minutes. It's great. It's the shortest I've ever had it. I would have pictures up, but my camera's dead so I'll have to charge the batteries.
We kind of just hung around the house on Saturday. That night we went and saw Madagascar 2 which I was kind of disappointed in too. I thought it was going to be funny like the first one, but it was very culturally relevant. I had a heard a review from someone from Focus on the Family that it wasn't very family friendly. They had given it a 2 1/2 out of 5. I understand what they meant now.
Church was good on Sunday. It was a salute to the veterans. It was good, but I think my first weekend home for Thanksgiving break I'm going back to our old church for one Sunday. I miss everyone there and I want to see people. I'm so excited for Thanksgiving break. It's in two weeks, and I'll be home for one whole week. I had thought about working for three days, but I want to see people and visit with people. I'm going to save the working for Christmas break when I'm home for 5 weeks.
I also have good news of God's blessings. I had received two scholarships that came from my Indian program, but my account was already paid in full so I was refunded for the scholarships and opened a savings account with the money. I had planned on doing it, and God blessed me with that. Now I have money for next semester already waiting to be paid. God is so good.
Yesterday was the first day I came home without getting teary-eyed in my truck after I left. The first two times were kind of hard, but I think it's getting easier. I have been praying about it a lot. I know God helped me yesterday.
Well, I will post more later, but right now I've got to prepare for tomorrow's classes. God Bless.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Change
I woke up this morning with a new President. I had planned on staying up and watching all the election coverage, but we found out at ten pm last night, so I didn't have to stay up until 3am after all.
When I first opened my eyes this morning, I was mad and angry that my choice of president did not succeed, as I'm sure were many. I did not vote for Barak Obama, and I don't support a lot of the things he does. But one thing still remains: He is still going to be the President of the United States come January 20. I can't change that. This country is still going to be the USA regardless of who the President is. Not to say I'm endorsing Barak Obama, but I know that God is in control. When 9/11 occurred the people of this great nation came together under one ringing mantra: God Bless America. I think we need to revisit this mantra but tweak it just a little: America Get on Your knees Before God. This is no time to bash the candidate we didn't want in the White House. It's time to pray like we never have before in our lives. As a follower of Christ, I know that the end times are not going to improve or get better. Maybe this is one of the changing of the times. Only God knows. That is where my hope lies. Not in the US of A, not in Barak Obama, and not in Congress; it lies in God. Even though I may have a new president, thank goodness my God is still the same.
So when Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, rolls around, I will probably watch as history is made: the first Inauguration of an African American President of the USA. It will be something I can tell to my kids and grand kids someday. History is history, I don't care what color you are. And for the next four years, I will be doing something I should've been doing for a long time. I will be praying for our great nation and its new leader. Change has come to America. I don't know if I'm talking about the same change Obama is, but change has certainly come. I hope in four years, Americans will have seen a better change, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. The only thing I would bet my life on is that, like I stated earlier, the One in charge will never change. He knew this would happen long before the Race to 2008 ever began. It is time to trust and pray.
I'm preaching to myself on a lot of this because I don't want to accept Barak Obama as my new president. But it's going to happen. Maybe there will be another change in four years....
......Did I hear someone say "Palin 2012"?
When I first opened my eyes this morning, I was mad and angry that my choice of president did not succeed, as I'm sure were many. I did not vote for Barak Obama, and I don't support a lot of the things he does. But one thing still remains: He is still going to be the President of the United States come January 20. I can't change that. This country is still going to be the USA regardless of who the President is. Not to say I'm endorsing Barak Obama, but I know that God is in control. When 9/11 occurred the people of this great nation came together under one ringing mantra: God Bless America. I think we need to revisit this mantra but tweak it just a little: America Get on Your knees Before God. This is no time to bash the candidate we didn't want in the White House. It's time to pray like we never have before in our lives. As a follower of Christ, I know that the end times are not going to improve or get better. Maybe this is one of the changing of the times. Only God knows. That is where my hope lies. Not in the US of A, not in Barak Obama, and not in Congress; it lies in God. Even though I may have a new president, thank goodness my God is still the same.
So when Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, rolls around, I will probably watch as history is made: the first Inauguration of an African American President of the USA. It will be something I can tell to my kids and grand kids someday. History is history, I don't care what color you are. And for the next four years, I will be doing something I should've been doing for a long time. I will be praying for our great nation and its new leader. Change has come to America. I don't know if I'm talking about the same change Obama is, but change has certainly come. I hope in four years, Americans will have seen a better change, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. The only thing I would bet my life on is that, like I stated earlier, the One in charge will never change. He knew this would happen long before the Race to 2008 ever began. It is time to trust and pray.
I'm preaching to myself on a lot of this because I don't want to accept Barak Obama as my new president. But it's going to happen. Maybe there will be another change in four years....
......Did I hear someone say "Palin 2012"?
Monday, November 3, 2008
St. Louis....
...was a blast. I had a lot of fun. The three and a half hour ride was a beautiful one. My roommate and I just couldn't get over all the beautiful colors we saw. Let me give you just a little overview of the weekend.
On Friday night when we arrived, we surprised Katlyn's mom and family. They had no idea she was coming except her brother. Her mom didn't even know who it was at first because she walked up wearing a penguin hat. It was really funny. We ate dinner...which was amazing. (I'm still full from it.) There was so much food. Two kinds of chili and a vegetable soup. There was spinach artichoke dip, egg rolls, and tons and tons of other food. It was all very good.
Then on Saturday her dad, mom, brother and us all went downtown to a place called Fitz's. It's kind of like a hamburger joint, but they're famous for their own kind of root beer. I didn't have any because I don't really like root beer, but I did have the cream soda. It was really good. And I had my first burger in like three months which was very good as well. After that we went browsing around some shops, and then we headed to the St. Louis zoo. It's actually free so I didn't have to worry about spending money there. It was really neat. We saw a lot of penguins and other animals, but we didn't stay very long.
This is Katlyn and me standing with the cardboard cast from HSM3. And we're nineteen? yes...we are!
We went back to my roomie's house after the zoo to eat a little something before we went to see High School Musical Three. We saw it at the Mega Screen, and it was amazing. It was really cute. After we saw the movie, we went to the Cheesecake Factory. I was going to order the Tuxedo cheesecake, but I ended up gettting this thing called Adam's Ripple which had peanut butter cups and butterfinger pieces in it and it was just really good. Next time I go back, I'm trying the Tuxedo.
This is Katlyn and me posing with our luscious pieces of cheesecake.
Then yesterday we went to Katlyn's church. We ate lunch, shopped at Old Navy for a little while, and then we headed back to her house to pack. At around four o'clock we headed back to the good old college town. I had a lot of fun. And then this weekend, I'm going home to see our last home football game!! I can't wait. Well, I better get off of here and start doing some wonderful college algebra homework.
Make sure you vote tomorrow!!!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Poor Mr. Shrivels
So about a week ago, I carved a pumpkin that has sat in front of our door in the hall. The pumpkin carving was an activity between 
three different halls here in the dorm. It was really fun, but my roomie pointed out yesterday that our pumpkin looked like it had seen better days. She was right. I took a look yesterday and I discovered that it was shriveling and molding. I told her we needed to have a funeral service for it, but instead we just took pictures of it. I went to pick it up today, and I guess I didn't know that pumpkins get mushy when they get old. This one was definitely mushy and gross. I hope you enjoy the pictures. We named it Mr. Shrivels.
three different halls here in the dorm. It was really fun, but my roomie pointed out yesterday that our pumpkin looked like it had seen better days. She was right. I took a look yesterday and I discovered that it was shriveling and molding. I told her we needed to have a funeral service for it, but instead we just took pictures of it. I went to pick it up today, and I guess I didn't know that pumpkins get mushy when they get old. This one was definitely mushy and gross. I hope you enjoy the pictures. We named it Mr. Shrivels.My roomie has invited me to go to St. Louis with her this weekend. 
That's where she's from, and she's going home for Halloween and she's going to surprise her parents because they don't know she's coming. I'm excited. It's been like seven or eight years since I've been to St. Louis. We're supposed to go the Cheesecake Factory and we're going to see High School Musical 3 on the mega screen. We opted to wait to see it this weekend instead of last. I don't know what else we'll do, but I know it will be tons more fun than hanging around here all weekend. Then I'll be here for one week, and then I'm going home. At my high school, it's the last football game, our rival game, the light show that the band puts on, and it's senior night. I can't wait. So far our team is 8-0, and we're hoping for a 10-0 season. We went 9-1 last year so I hope they can do it.
That's where she's from, and she's going home for Halloween and she's going to surprise her parents because they don't know she's coming. I'm excited. It's been like seven or eight years since I've been to St. Louis. We're supposed to go the Cheesecake Factory and we're going to see High School Musical 3 on the mega screen. We opted to wait to see it this weekend instead of last. I don't know what else we'll do, but I know it will be tons more fun than hanging around here all weekend. Then I'll be here for one week, and then I'm going home. At my high school, it's the last football game, our rival game, the light show that the band puts on, and it's senior night. I can't wait. So far our team is 8-0, and we're hoping for a 10-0 season. We went 9-1 last year so I hope they can do it. My two tests for the week are over, and I'm so happy. So for the rest of the semester, I only have five classes instead of six. That means that my Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are going to be very boring because I will only have one class. Oh, well, I won't complain because next semester I'm going to be taking eighteen hours. I'll enjoy my free time while I can.
Well, I will talk more later. Please be in prayer for our nation and the elections. And if I don't post again before Friday...Happy Halloween!!!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Autumn--A Gift from God
I went for a walk in the park today. I didn't want to go to the gym to walk, even though the gym is heated and it's very cold here. I needed to be out in creation with God, and it was a wonderful walk.
The colors are fading, and I can tell we are drifting further into fall. I've never experienced a fall when it got so cold so fast. When I go home next, I'm definitely taking more summer clothes home and bringing more winter clothes back. But as I was walking through the park, I wished that I could see the colors and atmosphere of fall all year long. It's so refreshing. Today was almost like a scene out of one of my novels. God told me it would all come back next year and that if we did have fall all year long I would get sick of it and start longing for spring, summer, and winter. I just want to hold on to it as long as I can. He told me it was His gift to me and that I am to cherish it for the rest of the season.
It's funny how God works. He creates the four seasons, creates the beautiful colors of fall--colors I could never dream up in a million years--and it all is for the glory of God. Today I must have seen over twenty squirrels all over the park. I saw the geese and the swans and the ducks. None of them were complaining or asking God why He made them that way. They weren't begging to be something else. They were just doing what God created them to do and glorifying Him in the process. I stopped as I gazed out at the magnificent pond. Two geese were gliding over it as if were nothing. I praised God. If I named all the things I praised Him for, it would be too long, but I just praised Him. Throughout this whole walk, one verse came to mind, a verse I ponder often. It's Psalm 46:10. "Be still and know that I am God." How many times a day in our busy lives and hectic schedules do we sit down and pause and be still? I just walked and I didn't try to make it complicated. I just knew deep in my heart that He was God. That everything was created by Him and for His glory. That He was my lover and would never leave me. That He was going to take care of every need I could ever imagine. I just had to be still, trust, and know He is God.
I once read something from Elisabeth Elliot in her book Passion and Purity that illustrates this very well. She is talking about the acorn. The simple little acorn that God created starts as a seed in the ground, but it gives life to a beautiful oak tree. Once an oak tree grows and grows, more acorns fall to the ground. The acorn doesn't ask God why it is an acorn or complain that the fall from the tree to the ground hurt. It it as it is because God created it to be an acorn. If the acorn wasn't an acorn, there would be many oak trees missing from this world. Elisabeth Elliot writes as if from God telling us, "Look at the acorn and trust me."
This is a big thing to think about in college. So many things are changing. I've never had to trust so much before in my life. But I am growing in doing so. Right now there are so many things that I don't know the answer to, but I'd rather not know than think I know and have it all wrong. But there is one thing that I do know. I know He is God. That is the only thing I need to know. And until the time comes when I'm supposed to know, I will wait. There is a song that I've been listening to lately that explains this very well. It's called "I Will Wait for You There" by Phil Wickham. It says, I will wait for you there, down on my knees where I met you, give you all of my cares. . . . And with outstretched arms, I will sing a melody. And my beating heart, will pour out a symphony. Hallelujahs in the morning, hallelujahs in the night. I will wait for you as long as I have life. The words and the music all fit together so wonderfully.
As I lamented leaving the park this evening because it closed at six, I embraced and captured the gift God had given me. I will keep it forever. It's so overwhelming standing amidst the beauty of the creator. Autumn is the most beautiful gift God has given the world, and me.
The colors are fading, and I can tell we are drifting further into fall. I've never experienced a fall when it got so cold so fast. When I go home next, I'm definitely taking more summer clothes home and bringing more winter clothes back. But as I was walking through the park, I wished that I could see the colors and atmosphere of fall all year long. It's so refreshing. Today was almost like a scene out of one of my novels. God told me it would all come back next year and that if we did have fall all year long I would get sick of it and start longing for spring, summer, and winter. I just want to hold on to it as long as I can. He told me it was His gift to me and that I am to cherish it for the rest of the season.
It's funny how God works. He creates the four seasons, creates the beautiful colors of fall--colors I could never dream up in a million years--and it all is for the glory of God. Today I must have seen over twenty squirrels all over the park. I saw the geese and the swans and the ducks. None of them were complaining or asking God why He made them that way. They weren't begging to be something else. They were just doing what God created them to do and glorifying Him in the process. I stopped as I gazed out at the magnificent pond. Two geese were gliding over it as if were nothing. I praised God. If I named all the things I praised Him for, it would be too long, but I just praised Him. Throughout this whole walk, one verse came to mind, a verse I ponder often. It's Psalm 46:10. "Be still and know that I am God." How many times a day in our busy lives and hectic schedules do we sit down and pause and be still? I just walked and I didn't try to make it complicated. I just knew deep in my heart that He was God. That everything was created by Him and for His glory. That He was my lover and would never leave me. That He was going to take care of every need I could ever imagine. I just had to be still, trust, and know He is God.
I once read something from Elisabeth Elliot in her book Passion and Purity that illustrates this very well. She is talking about the acorn. The simple little acorn that God created starts as a seed in the ground, but it gives life to a beautiful oak tree. Once an oak tree grows and grows, more acorns fall to the ground. The acorn doesn't ask God why it is an acorn or complain that the fall from the tree to the ground hurt. It it as it is because God created it to be an acorn. If the acorn wasn't an acorn, there would be many oak trees missing from this world. Elisabeth Elliot writes as if from God telling us, "Look at the acorn and trust me."
This is a big thing to think about in college. So many things are changing. I've never had to trust so much before in my life. But I am growing in doing so. Right now there are so many things that I don't know the answer to, but I'd rather not know than think I know and have it all wrong. But there is one thing that I do know. I know He is God. That is the only thing I need to know. And until the time comes when I'm supposed to know, I will wait. There is a song that I've been listening to lately that explains this very well. It's called "I Will Wait for You There" by Phil Wickham. It says, I will wait for you there, down on my knees where I met you, give you all of my cares. . . . And with outstretched arms, I will sing a melody. And my beating heart, will pour out a symphony. Hallelujahs in the morning, hallelujahs in the night. I will wait for you as long as I have life. The words and the music all fit together so wonderfully.
As I lamented leaving the park this evening because it closed at six, I embraced and captured the gift God had given me. I will keep it forever. It's so overwhelming standing amidst the beauty of the creator. Autumn is the most beautiful gift God has given the world, and me.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Burrr...The Weather Sure Is Different Up Here!!!
So this week I think the temperatures have slowly decreased with each passing day. I think today was the coldest day we've had so far. They finally turned the heaters on in the dorms. Last night, I was sitting in my room freezing because they hadn't turned them on yet, but the Lord must've heard my prayers because the heaters are roaring tonight.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the college football game to take pictures for yearbook. I'm only going to stay until halftime though because it will probably be cold. After that, one of my friends and me are going to a fun/bigger town about thirty minutes from here to shop and see a movie. She wants to see "Fireproof." I've already seen it, but I told her I would totally see it again. We're going to see a matinee to save money. Then we may go to the mall and maybe Barnes and Noble. We both love to read.
Then on Sunday, my roommate and I are going to try out a new church. After that we're also going to see a matinee of "High School Musical 3." It's kind of cheesy and I didn't want to see it at first, but I'm curious to see how it will be. It's rated G, so I know it won't be bad.
God has been blessing me so much lately. One, gas here is $2.09, and I haven't seen gas that cheap in forever. I love it. Second, my friend Tarah's mom wants me to do my laundry at their house all the time. She lives here in the college town, and just loves when I come over and do my laundry. So tonight we went over to Tarah's and watched TV and laid around. I love the weekends here. They are so slow-paced and relaxed. They're something to look forward to. The third thing is that (and this may sound a little weird) I've been trying to find a really good pair of jeans. I've put on a little weight recently, but my pride has been stopping me from buying a bigger size of jeans. I've been wearing my old ones that I can barely breathe in. So I went to the Maurice's here and I found a really good pair and they are so comfy. I wore them today, I'm going to wear them tomorrow, and I'll probably wear them Sunday. And they are long enough for me. Finding long jeans for a tall girl like me is sometimes a problem, but not these. The fourth thing God has blessed me with is that I got a 97% on my college algebra test that I took on Wednesday. I studied for an overall four hours, and it paid off. I was so happy.
It's funny. Before I went home last weekend for my birthday, I was thinking that I was going to have to wait for college to suit me. But I think my problem was that I wasn't focusing on what was happening here at college. I was thinking about my house and family back home. I kept thinking about how I was missing out on their lives. But this is a new time in my life that it's normal to break away and learn how to live somewhat independently. It's different, that's for sure, and no one prepared me for how hard it would be to leave home, but I can't keep looking back. I have to look forward and live each day abundantly, the way my Lord would want me to live. I'm making so many friends, doing so many things, and I'm learning to seek after God in a whole new way. Yes, I miss my friends and family and hometown, but God has a new plan for my life here. I keep thinking about Jeremiah 29:11. He has this awesome plan for me, and I have nothing to fear. When I go to enroll for second semester, I'm changing my major to undeclared. I will be taking more general education courses that will give me an idea of what I want to major in. I know I'll be in general psychology, and that is a possibility for a major. I was talking to a girl today at lunch who is in my college algebra class, and she told me she's a psych major. Later today, when I was back in the room, I thought about wanting to major in writing and being an author. That's what I want to do. That's almost the easy way out to me. That's almost like a past time. I love it, but I don't know if I could sit through all the literature classes and write all the papers for an English major. But I want to help people. Counseling, psychology, social work; I don't know, but this is when I know that God does. He knows everything and I can't wait to see what He's going to do.
Well, I've written quite a bit here and I'm getting kind of sleepy. I will update more later.
Tomorrow, I'm going to the college football game to take pictures for yearbook. I'm only going to stay until halftime though because it will probably be cold. After that, one of my friends and me are going to a fun/bigger town about thirty minutes from here to shop and see a movie. She wants to see "Fireproof." I've already seen it, but I told her I would totally see it again. We're going to see a matinee to save money. Then we may go to the mall and maybe Barnes and Noble. We both love to read.
Then on Sunday, my roommate and I are going to try out a new church. After that we're also going to see a matinee of "High School Musical 3." It's kind of cheesy and I didn't want to see it at first, but I'm curious to see how it will be. It's rated G, so I know it won't be bad.
God has been blessing me so much lately. One, gas here is $2.09, and I haven't seen gas that cheap in forever. I love it. Second, my friend Tarah's mom wants me to do my laundry at their house all the time. She lives here in the college town, and just loves when I come over and do my laundry. So tonight we went over to Tarah's and watched TV and laid around. I love the weekends here. They are so slow-paced and relaxed. They're something to look forward to. The third thing is that (and this may sound a little weird) I've been trying to find a really good pair of jeans. I've put on a little weight recently, but my pride has been stopping me from buying a bigger size of jeans. I've been wearing my old ones that I can barely breathe in. So I went to the Maurice's here and I found a really good pair and they are so comfy. I wore them today, I'm going to wear them tomorrow, and I'll probably wear them Sunday. And they are long enough for me. Finding long jeans for a tall girl like me is sometimes a problem, but not these. The fourth thing God has blessed me with is that I got a 97% on my college algebra test that I took on Wednesday. I studied for an overall four hours, and it paid off. I was so happy.
It's funny. Before I went home last weekend for my birthday, I was thinking that I was going to have to wait for college to suit me. But I think my problem was that I wasn't focusing on what was happening here at college. I was thinking about my house and family back home. I kept thinking about how I was missing out on their lives. But this is a new time in my life that it's normal to break away and learn how to live somewhat independently. It's different, that's for sure, and no one prepared me for how hard it would be to leave home, but I can't keep looking back. I have to look forward and live each day abundantly, the way my Lord would want me to live. I'm making so many friends, doing so many things, and I'm learning to seek after God in a whole new way. Yes, I miss my friends and family and hometown, but God has a new plan for my life here. I keep thinking about Jeremiah 29:11. He has this awesome plan for me, and I have nothing to fear. When I go to enroll for second semester, I'm changing my major to undeclared. I will be taking more general education courses that will give me an idea of what I want to major in. I know I'll be in general psychology, and that is a possibility for a major. I was talking to a girl today at lunch who is in my college algebra class, and she told me she's a psych major. Later today, when I was back in the room, I thought about wanting to major in writing and being an author. That's what I want to do. That's almost the easy way out to me. That's almost like a past time. I love it, but I don't know if I could sit through all the literature classes and write all the papers for an English major. But I want to help people. Counseling, psychology, social work; I don't know, but this is when I know that God does. He knows everything and I can't wait to see what He's going to do.
Well, I've written quite a bit here and I'm getting kind of sleepy. I will update more later.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Something to think about.
Last night at my college, the students saw a special viewing of a movie called, "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers." At first this kind of sounds like an oxymoron, but the movie was very good and very convicting. The star, writer, and producer of the movie, Dan Merchant, was also here to promote the movie and to have a discussion with us after the movie.
The basic theme of the movie is this guy in a bumper-sticker suit going all over America interviewing people. He asks them about God, Christians, if they are going to heaven, and is trying to solve the issue of "Why is the gospel of love dividing America?" That's kind of an oxymoron too if you think about it. So many people look at Christians and see narrow minded, judgemental, goody-goodies who don't care about anybody else's opinion but their own. Dan Merchant sets out on a three year journey to understand why Christians are like that and to get first-hand responses from the general public on their take of Christians.
Another basic theme of the movie is just loving others. Forgetting nationalities, if they are homosexual, bisexual, smell bad, if they are homeless; forgetting all our differences and listening to one of the last commandments Jesus gave before he was crucified: "Love others as I have loved you." He didn't say "love the ones you want to love." No, he said to love others.
In the movie, Dan Merchant is in San Fransisco and he interviews a male that is dressed as a nun drag queen--that's actually a description taken from Dan Merchant himself. He is undoubtedly a homosexual. This guy looks crazy. For the first fifteen minutes of the interview, Dan was tense and couldn't relax and was very fake (he told us all this during the discussion after the film). Then Dan said God spoke to him and said, "This guy is no different from you. I love him just as much as I love you." When Dan heard that, he relaxed and realized that God doesn't pick and choose who he loves and neither should we. That's a little hard to remember when people smell bad and are homeless, but God loves them just as much as he loves us.
I'm not sure when this movie is coming to theaters, but keep your ears and eyes open for it. It's definitely worth your time and money. If you want to check out the website, it is http://lordsaveusthemovie.com/home.html.
There are also plenty of YouTube videos on the subject as well, but here is one that can get you started. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmFHVkMud7k
Check these out and remember to love people. It doesn't matter if you feel like it or not, just love them. Jesus didn't feel like going to the cross, but he made a choice. Make your choice today.
The basic theme of the movie is this guy in a bumper-sticker suit going all over America interviewing people. He asks them about God, Christians, if they are going to heaven, and is trying to solve the issue of "Why is the gospel of love dividing America?" That's kind of an oxymoron too if you think about it. So many people look at Christians and see narrow minded, judgemental, goody-goodies who don't care about anybody else's opinion but their own. Dan Merchant sets out on a three year journey to understand why Christians are like that and to get first-hand responses from the general public on their take of Christians.
Another basic theme of the movie is just loving others. Forgetting nationalities, if they are homosexual, bisexual, smell bad, if they are homeless; forgetting all our differences and listening to one of the last commandments Jesus gave before he was crucified: "Love others as I have loved you." He didn't say "love the ones you want to love." No, he said to love others.
In the movie, Dan Merchant is in San Fransisco and he interviews a male that is dressed as a nun drag queen--that's actually a description taken from Dan Merchant himself. He is undoubtedly a homosexual. This guy looks crazy. For the first fifteen minutes of the interview, Dan was tense and couldn't relax and was very fake (he told us all this during the discussion after the film). Then Dan said God spoke to him and said, "This guy is no different from you. I love him just as much as I love you." When Dan heard that, he relaxed and realized that God doesn't pick and choose who he loves and neither should we. That's a little hard to remember when people smell bad and are homeless, but God loves them just as much as he loves us.
I'm not sure when this movie is coming to theaters, but keep your ears and eyes open for it. It's definitely worth your time and money. If you want to check out the website, it is http://lordsaveusthemovie.com/home.html.
There are also plenty of YouTube videos on the subject as well, but here is one that can get you started. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmFHVkMud7k
Check these out and remember to love people. It doesn't matter if you feel like it or not, just love them. Jesus didn't feel like going to the cross, but he made a choice. Make your choice today.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Good News and Two More Days!!!
I found out today that I get to be a mentor at our local pregnancy resource center. When I first went to volunteer, they told me that college students couldn't be mentors. But one of my professors is on the board there, he petitioned for college students to be mentors, and now I will be the first college student to be a mentor. I'm really excited. I have to go through about a month of training, but I know it will be worth it.
I have a mid-term tomorrow and a paper due in the same class. But I have the paper done, although I still have quite a bit of studying to do for the exam. My dad called me today and we talked for around fifteen minutes. I really miss him. I haven't seen him in over a month, and if you didn't know, I am a major daddy's girl. He wants me to come home after my last class tomorrow so I could watch the football game with him in our town. (The football game is on a Thursday instead of a Friday because it's their fall break.) I told him I would love to except for the fact that I have college algebra on Friday and it would kill me if I skipped it. It's not really so hard, but if I missed one class I would miss a lot of information. I think we will both be glad when Thanksgiving break gets here.
I only have two more days before I go home, and I'm really excited. As soon as I drive into my town, I have to go straight to the tag office and get my driver's license renewed. It doesn't seem possible that it's already time for that. Talk about feeling old. I remember what I wore the day I got my driver's license the first time. Now I'm renewing it? What?
It's funny, every other year when I've had a birthday, I've counted down the days and anticipated it so much. But this year I haven't really cared. I think this is a sign that I'm really growing up. It's kind of weird, but I will grow in to growing up. It might take time, but sooner or later it will suit me.
Well, I've gotta go study for that mid-term. I'll share more later.
I have a mid-term tomorrow and a paper due in the same class. But I have the paper done, although I still have quite a bit of studying to do for the exam. My dad called me today and we talked for around fifteen minutes. I really miss him. I haven't seen him in over a month, and if you didn't know, I am a major daddy's girl. He wants me to come home after my last class tomorrow so I could watch the football game with him in our town. (The football game is on a Thursday instead of a Friday because it's their fall break.) I told him I would love to except for the fact that I have college algebra on Friday and it would kill me if I skipped it. It's not really so hard, but if I missed one class I would miss a lot of information. I think we will both be glad when Thanksgiving break gets here.
I only have two more days before I go home, and I'm really excited. As soon as I drive into my town, I have to go straight to the tag office and get my driver's license renewed. It doesn't seem possible that it's already time for that. Talk about feeling old. I remember what I wore the day I got my driver's license the first time. Now I'm renewing it? What?
It's funny, every other year when I've had a birthday, I've counted down the days and anticipated it so much. But this year I haven't really cared. I think this is a sign that I'm really growing up. It's kind of weird, but I will grow in to growing up. It might take time, but sooner or later it will suit me.
Well, I've gotta go study for that mid-term. I'll share more later.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
One More Week
I have one more week of being eighteen. That doesn't seem possible. It just feels like I turned eighteen yesterday. I'm going home this weekend to see my family and celebrate my two little cousins' birthdays as well. I can't wait to see them. It's been over two months since I've seen them, and I bet they are just as big as they can be. I miss them so much.
My mom and cousin came up this weekend to visit me. It was really good to see them. They are staying for chapel tomorrow to hear Don Piper speak. He wrote the book 90 Minutes in Heaven. I can't wait to hear him speak. I've heard him speak before, but I'm super excited to hear him speak again.
I'm praying about changing my major. God has brought so much to my mind lately. I just don't know where to begin. I think I mentioned I had read a book entitled Set-Apart Femininity. Well, I finished it, and it really woke me up to what a set-apart woman of God should look like in this day and age. I think one of the things it talked about really hit home. I've dreamed of falling in love for so long all the while telling God he was writing my love story. But so many times I would try to look and guess and see if I could find the man of my dreams. It was really bad when I first got to college because there was a whole new sea of fish, so to speak. But one of the points Leslie Ludy makes in her book is that we have to fall in love with Jesus and let him capture our hearts before we can fall in love on earth. She says that we have to come to the point that if we were single for the rest of our lives, we'd be okay with that because Jesus is more than enough. Heaven knows I'm not there yet, but that's where I want to be. I don't want to constantly think about a guy. I want to constantly think about God. I want to fall madly in love with Him. Another thing she talked about was the type of entertainment we watch and how we waste our time on it. I don't watch that many movies, but since I've been at college, I've watched more PG-13 movies than I have when I was at home. Not horrible, awful movies, but they've still been PG-13. And I've been convicted about that. I know I shouldn't be watching them. After reading this book and reading tons of scripture, I am going back to the "rule" that my parents had when I was growing up: no PG-13 movies. I don't even want to watch them. She said in her book that we would be thought odd truly living a set-apart life. But I don't really care. I'm going to live by the word of God and if anyone wants to make fun, they can take it up with God. He is what matters now. I'm really sick of living a sedentary "Christian" lifestyle.
What I'm really excited about though is the Wednesday night ministry we have here called Whitehouse. It's great. I get to minister to and talk to girls that are hurting and who need love. This week, as much as possible, I want to try to connect with them outside of Whitehouse. There is girl whose name is Jordan. She's a senior in high school here, and she's thinking about coming to college here. She's thinking about living in the same dorm as me, so I've told her if she wants to come hang out some time, she's more than welcome. It's all about investing in these girls' lives.
Well, I don't have to get up that early tomorrow, but I still need to head to bed and get that beauty sleep (wink wink). I will keep updating, and you keep praying.
My mom and cousin came up this weekend to visit me. It was really good to see them. They are staying for chapel tomorrow to hear Don Piper speak. He wrote the book 90 Minutes in Heaven. I can't wait to hear him speak. I've heard him speak before, but I'm super excited to hear him speak again.
I'm praying about changing my major. God has brought so much to my mind lately. I just don't know where to begin. I think I mentioned I had read a book entitled Set-Apart Femininity. Well, I finished it, and it really woke me up to what a set-apart woman of God should look like in this day and age. I think one of the things it talked about really hit home. I've dreamed of falling in love for so long all the while telling God he was writing my love story. But so many times I would try to look and guess and see if I could find the man of my dreams. It was really bad when I first got to college because there was a whole new sea of fish, so to speak. But one of the points Leslie Ludy makes in her book is that we have to fall in love with Jesus and let him capture our hearts before we can fall in love on earth. She says that we have to come to the point that if we were single for the rest of our lives, we'd be okay with that because Jesus is more than enough. Heaven knows I'm not there yet, but that's where I want to be. I don't want to constantly think about a guy. I want to constantly think about God. I want to fall madly in love with Him. Another thing she talked about was the type of entertainment we watch and how we waste our time on it. I don't watch that many movies, but since I've been at college, I've watched more PG-13 movies than I have when I was at home. Not horrible, awful movies, but they've still been PG-13. And I've been convicted about that. I know I shouldn't be watching them. After reading this book and reading tons of scripture, I am going back to the "rule" that my parents had when I was growing up: no PG-13 movies. I don't even want to watch them. She said in her book that we would be thought odd truly living a set-apart life. But I don't really care. I'm going to live by the word of God and if anyone wants to make fun, they can take it up with God. He is what matters now. I'm really sick of living a sedentary "Christian" lifestyle.
What I'm really excited about though is the Wednesday night ministry we have here called Whitehouse. It's great. I get to minister to and talk to girls that are hurting and who need love. This week, as much as possible, I want to try to connect with them outside of Whitehouse. There is girl whose name is Jordan. She's a senior in high school here, and she's thinking about coming to college here. She's thinking about living in the same dorm as me, so I've told her if she wants to come hang out some time, she's more than welcome. It's all about investing in these girls' lives.
Well, I don't have to get up that early tomorrow, but I still need to head to bed and get that beauty sleep (wink wink). I will keep updating, and you keep praying.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Fall...It's definitely here!!!
So I went to the park today. I took my book, my camera, my free McDonald's coffee that I was glad was free because it wasn't very good, and I went and stared in awe of the beauty of fall. The park in my college town is very beautiful. There is a pond in the middle of it and the trees are starting to turn the most gorgeous, breathtaking colors. It's wonderful.
I've been reading this book entitled Set-Apart Femininity. So far it's pretty much the best book I've ever read. It's written by Leslie Ludy, and she does a great job of showing what a real set-apart lifestyle for Christ looks like. I love it, and I'm almost done with it. But as I sat in the cool breeze with the beautiful trees overhead, I just couldn't help but praise God. I thought that if the scene around me was as beautiful as it was, how much more beautiful is God? I just loved it.
I'm thinking about changing my major. I guess I should say I'm praying about it. This last June, I surrendered to work with teenage girls. I have felt that call on my heart for a long time. But the more I've been thinking about it lately, the more I've realized that English and working with teenage girls don't really have a lot in common. For a long time, I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I told everyone that until God told me what he wanted me to do, I wanted to study English. But he hasn't told me what he wants me to do. I've just assumed he wants me to do that. I love to write, don't get me wrong, but is that what God wants me to do for the rest of my life? That's what I'm praying about. If I do end up changing my major, it will probably be toward the areas of psychology and counseling. I would love to be a high school counselor.
There are a lot of things I would like to do and I think until I take more of my basics it will just take me time to realize what it is I'm called to do. College has been so eye-opening for me already. And I've only been here a little over a month. That seems so hard to believe because it feels like I've been here forever.
Well, I'm gonna call it a night. I will write back soon.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Homecoming!!!
So this week is homecoming for my school. There are events taking place all week long. The best thing about this week is that my mom, cousin, and brother are all coming up to see me on Saturday. I'm really excited because my cousin and my brother have never seen the campus before and I'm super excited for them to see it. My cousin will be staying with me in my room. We will have to figure out her sleeping arrangements, but that won't be too hard. She'll probably bring a sleeping bag and a pillow or something.
But yeah, I'm loving school more everyday. I'm talking with more friends that I haven't talked to in a long time on Facebook, and I'm learning more everyday how awesome God is. He is my sole source of constancy. Some days I don't know what I'm supposed to do about certain things, but I just give them to God and I am at peace.
The biggest thing I can't believe is that my 19th birthday is coming up. That doesn't seem possible. My little cousins are turning three, my brother will be fifteen in December, time is going by so fast.
Well, it is late, and I need to go to bed. I have an American government test tomorrow. Such fun. Anyway will write more later.
But yeah, I'm loving school more everyday. I'm talking with more friends that I haven't talked to in a long time on Facebook, and I'm learning more everyday how awesome God is. He is my sole source of constancy. Some days I don't know what I'm supposed to do about certain things, but I just give them to God and I am at peace.
The biggest thing I can't believe is that my 19th birthday is coming up. That doesn't seem possible. My little cousins are turning three, my brother will be fifteen in December, time is going by so fast.
Well, it is late, and I need to go to bed. I have an American government test tomorrow. Such fun. Anyway will write more later.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Goodbye September, Hello October
Well, I officially have one month of school underneath my belt. I can't say if I feel like it's gone by fast or slow. It's just kind of gone by. The weeks are going by faster though which I think is good. There at the beginning they just seemed to drag on.
In my first class today, we had a guest speaker and she was talking about career options in our future and other stuff like that. Another thing she talked about was studying abroad. I have wanted to study abroad for forever. I think my top pick would be London, England. There is a girl in my class that would love to go also, and so if our parents agree and we raise enough money, we might go together. But I will have to work my behind off and pray. I just think it would be such an awesome experience. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
I can't believe we only have three months left of 2008. It just seems like last year I was getting everything ready for graduation and now I'm working on getting graduation requirements out of the way and gen-eds. My parents have always told me that the older you get the faster the time goes by. They were right. It's just going by so fast. But a good part about that is in roughly two weeks, I get to go home for my birthday. I'm going to be 19. That's what seems impossible. I remember this time last year I was so looking forward to being 18. I was going to get to vote. Well, I have voted, and now I'm getting ready to turn 19. It's kind of an in between year. I'm not 18 anymore, but I'm not 20 yet either. It's kind of weird.
Well, I shouldn't be on here at all. I have way too much stuff to do, but I find that I have to take breaks. (ADD?) No, I don't think so, but I can definitely tell that the way I study here is different than when I studied in high school.
I'm going to go, but I will update later.
In my first class today, we had a guest speaker and she was talking about career options in our future and other stuff like that. Another thing she talked about was studying abroad. I have wanted to study abroad for forever. I think my top pick would be London, England. There is a girl in my class that would love to go also, and so if our parents agree and we raise enough money, we might go together. But I will have to work my behind off and pray. I just think it would be such an awesome experience. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.
I can't believe we only have three months left of 2008. It just seems like last year I was getting everything ready for graduation and now I'm working on getting graduation requirements out of the way and gen-eds. My parents have always told me that the older you get the faster the time goes by. They were right. It's just going by so fast. But a good part about that is in roughly two weeks, I get to go home for my birthday. I'm going to be 19. That's what seems impossible. I remember this time last year I was so looking forward to being 18. I was going to get to vote. Well, I have voted, and now I'm getting ready to turn 19. It's kind of an in between year. I'm not 18 anymore, but I'm not 20 yet either. It's kind of weird.
Well, I shouldn't be on here at all. I have way too much stuff to do, but I find that I have to take breaks. (ADD?) No, I don't think so, but I can definitely tell that the way I study here is different than when I studied in high school.
I'm going to go, but I will update later.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Different...Wierd...College
College, so far in my life, is very different from anything else I've ever experienced. It's different from high school, different from living with my parents, and different from my normal course of life. Things are happening that I've never had to deal with before. Not big things, but issues that I have to look at and see where I stand. Not where my parents stand, but where I stand.
Different things have arose that before I've just kind blown off or not had to deal with. The more I'm here, though, I realize one very true and undeniable fact: God is the only constancy in my life. For a long time I thought my parents and friends were. But now, they're all gone. I'm not saying that we shouldn't depend on our parents and friends, but they won't always be right there everyday. I'm making new friends, but some day I may not see them everyday either. God just keeps telling me through different circumstances that He is the only who I can fully rely on 100% of the time. Faith plays a very big factor here.
I've been told that college freshman, especially females, change a lot their first year. I might have already mentioned this, I don't remember. But I can already tell I'm changing. I'm on my own and the choices I make now are more concrete and permanent than the ones I used to make.
Another thing I've realized is despite the fact that I used to absolutely want to get out of my home town so bad, I miss it so much. I miss my parents, my brother, my room, and everything about home. I miss all of my family and my cousin. I miss our old church. Things are just changing, and I'm not quite used to it. College is great, but I just didn't think I would miss home this much.
I'm happy, don't get me wrong. Things are just different. Well, I have to go to a meeting. I will write more later. Please pray for me.
Different things have arose that before I've just kind blown off or not had to deal with. The more I'm here, though, I realize one very true and undeniable fact: God is the only constancy in my life. For a long time I thought my parents and friends were. But now, they're all gone. I'm not saying that we shouldn't depend on our parents and friends, but they won't always be right there everyday. I'm making new friends, but some day I may not see them everyday either. God just keeps telling me through different circumstances that He is the only who I can fully rely on 100% of the time. Faith plays a very big factor here.
I've been told that college freshman, especially females, change a lot their first year. I might have already mentioned this, I don't remember. But I can already tell I'm changing. I'm on my own and the choices I make now are more concrete and permanent than the ones I used to make.
Another thing I've realized is despite the fact that I used to absolutely want to get out of my home town so bad, I miss it so much. I miss my parents, my brother, my room, and everything about home. I miss all of my family and my cousin. I miss our old church. Things are just changing, and I'm not quite used to it. College is great, but I just didn't think I would miss home this much.
I'm happy, don't get me wrong. Things are just different. Well, I have to go to a meeting. I will write more later. Please pray for me.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Church, Concerts, Camping...Such Fun!!!
Well, I've had an eventful weekend and beginning of the week.
I went camping Friday night into Saturday morning with like thirty other people. We slept in tents and roasted marshmallows and made smore's. It was pretty fun. Then when I got back from camping and looking like poo, I showered and made myself look presentable for the football game.
On Saturday, I attended my first college football game of my college. We won 83-6. It was the first time since 2001 that our team has won two games back to back. We're usually not that good. I think they just wanted to show off because I've finally come to college. (ha ha) After the game, I went to my friend Tarah's house, and her mom let me do my laundry again. This is the fourth week I haven't had to pay for laundry. We watched a movie, ate dinner, and hung out. It was really fun.
Then on Sunday four or us girls went to a church in a little town about twenty-five minutes from here. It was the First Baptist Church of that town, and I loved it. I think we're going back this Sunday. It was so homey and everyone was so friendly and loving. We didn't get out of church until ten after twelve and that's a little late for me because at my church back home we always got out before twelve. But they are so laid back and easy going. Their college and career class is good too. Then after church, one of the moms who has a son who is a freshman here had all the college age kids over to her house for lunch. It was so good. I loved it all. After church, I had to come back and study for the four tests I have this week. Well, I only have three left now because I took one today. I have two tomorrow and one on Friday, plus I have a research paper to research.
But tonight we had three groups that performed here. One was Alli Rogers, the next was Chris Taylor, and to top it off the Robbie Seay Band performed. It was incredible. I loved every minute of it. They were this brick of three albums, one from each group, and a book for thirty dollars. I couldn't resist. I also got autographs and pictures with them. And best of all, it was free. I love college.
Well, I better wrap it up. I have to get up at seven in the morning, and I have those two tests tomorrow. And I start volunteering at the pregnancy resource center tomorrow. Then tomorrow night our hall sponsor is having us over to dinner. Busy, busy day. And I have a Pilate's class. Whew! Well, I'll write more later.
Jana
I went camping Friday night into Saturday morning with like thirty other people. We slept in tents and roasted marshmallows and made smore's. It was pretty fun. Then when I got back from camping and looking like poo, I showered and made myself look presentable for the football game.
On Saturday, I attended my first college football game of my college. We won 83-6. It was the first time since 2001 that our team has won two games back to back. We're usually not that good. I think they just wanted to show off because I've finally come to college. (ha ha) After the game, I went to my friend Tarah's house, and her mom let me do my laundry again. This is the fourth week I haven't had to pay for laundry. We watched a movie, ate dinner, and hung out. It was really fun.
Then on Sunday four or us girls went to a church in a little town about twenty-five minutes from here. It was the First Baptist Church of that town, and I loved it. I think we're going back this Sunday. It was so homey and everyone was so friendly and loving. We didn't get out of church until ten after twelve and that's a little late for me because at my church back home we always got out before twelve. But they are so laid back and easy going. Their college and career class is good too. Then after church, one of the moms who has a son who is a freshman here had all the college age kids over to her house for lunch. It was so good. I loved it all. After church, I had to come back and study for the four tests I have this week. Well, I only have three left now because I took one today. I have two tomorrow and one on Friday, plus I have a research paper to research.
But tonight we had three groups that performed here. One was Alli Rogers, the next was Chris Taylor, and to top it off the Robbie Seay Band performed. It was incredible. I loved every minute of it. They were this brick of three albums, one from each group, and a book for thirty dollars. I couldn't resist. I also got autographs and pictures with them. And best of all, it was free. I love college.
Well, I better wrap it up. I have to get up at seven in the morning, and I have those two tests tomorrow. And I start volunteering at the pregnancy resource center tomorrow. Then tomorrow night our hall sponsor is having us over to dinner. Busy, busy day. And I have a Pilate's class. Whew! Well, I'll write more later.
Jana
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