You know, as Americans we take so much for granted. I don't think that's anything any of us have never heard before thought about on occassion. However, tonight I have been sort of overwhelmed by how fortunate we are to live in America, where we have access to clean water, food, and medical care if we need it.
Tonight I have been watching TLC and they are showing one of those surgery shows and tonight it is about a girl named Marlie who had a 16 pound liesion on her face that has completely disfigured her. She is from Haiti and was on the verge of death because it was keeping her from breathing, eating, not to mention going out in public where people thought she was cursed or a monster.
Can you imagine if that was your child?
Anyways, she was fortunte enough to be able to come to America to have a never before performed sugery and as she was going in for the first part of her operation, her mother and the two Haitian nurses who made the journey with her were singing and even praying the song "God Bless America." They aren't Americans, but because of the medical technology we have in our country, their little girl is saved. We really are blessed.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Get Up and Go
Sometimes I become very overwhelmed with the feeling that I need to go somewhere and do something. I don't mean, like go for a run (although that does happen), but do something really purposeful with my life.
I'm thinking Peace Corps.
I'm thinking Peace Corps.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
100 You Might or Might Not Know About Me
1. I got this idea from KTB.
2. I'm listening to Dashboard Confessional right now.
3. I'm a nerd, I really like school.
4. I once made a mixed tape for a boy I liked. To this day it was probably the boldest thing I've ever done for like.
5. On most guys in most situations, I find facial hair incredibly attractive (exlcuding the solitary mustache).
6. I have been to four countries outside of the United States and have driven through or flown out of two additional ones.
7. I once spent an entire day convincing my little brother he was adopted. He later told his kindergarten teacher.
8. Carvel cake is the way to my heart.
9. Despite being raised in a church, I became a Christian at 14.
10. I've had lice.
11. I still listen to Hanson (that's including recent CDs).
12. I have been keeping a diary/journal since I was 8 1/2 years old.
13. I really like Harry Potter and sometimes wish I could go to Hogwarts.
14. I want seven kids---this could be attributed to watching a lot of 7th Heaven, but I won't say that is the sole reason.
15. I could (and sometimes do) listen to nothing but 80's music and music from musicals or Disney movies.
16. I'm 64% gross according to blogthings How Gross are You quiz.
17. Before college "exercise" was like a four letter word...and never would have been done for fun.
18. I like to blend things with the Magic Bullet.
19. I compulsively check my e-mail.
20. I cry at A Baby Story.
21. Watching Newsies makes me want to do something important and stand for something I believe in.
22. I don't watch the news or read the newspaper as much as I should to be an informed citizen.
23. Grass green is my shade of green.
24. I've gone four straight days without a shower.
25. I am pretty sure I don't want alcohol at my wedding.
26. One time in middle school, to stick it to the man, I wrote "We the People of the Back of the Room" with two fellow deviants who got sent to the back of the room.
27. Ben Moser is mostly responsible for who I am...all complaints can be directed to him.
28. Sometimes I truly think I should just have the final opinion on how things should be in the world.
29. I'm taking hip hop this semester.
30. I love taking pictures.
31. I used to want to be an actress and sometimes really regret not pursuing that dream.
32. People think I look like Katie Holmes.
33. I went to see Michael Jackson cover band last spring.
34. There are 150 people on my buddy list...I hardly talk to them all.
35. I have a copy of The Giving Tree with me at college.
36. I read non-Narnia C.S. Lewis books for fun.
37. I want to write a book and be published.
38. I don't really like talking on the phone.
39. I like to play dress up.
40. If reasonable, I would wear skirts and dresses all of the time.
41. I loathe being cold, and sometimes lose feeling in my toes when it's too cold out.
42. I collect large eyewear.
43. I was a semi-finalist for the Park Scholarship to NCSU.
44. Despite what people might think, I really don't like icebreakers.
45. I am a camp dork...seriously.
46. I did not want to go to my high school graduation.
47. I want to live in NYC for some period of my life.
48. If The Wedding Singer of Son-in-Law are on TV, I will watch it regardless of how many times I've seen them.
49. Flirting gets on my nerves.
50. I love jewelry!!!
51. I'm convinced Jesus was a good looking man.
52. I want a tatoo.
53. I believe everyone should join in on the musical of life that is already going on in my head.
54. I memorize and quote lyrics and movie lines all of the time.
55. I like to eat ice cream for breakfast.
56. I hate feet.
57. When Army recruiters kept calling me I told them I wanted to be a fasion designer and giggled a lot to get them to hang up.
58. I want to go to Africa.
59. My stomach makes weird noises all the time.
60. My watch smells but I don't want to get rid of it because it shoots lasers.
61. I caught Gregg Marshall's shirt at the last basketball game.
62. I got detention twice in middle school...once for wearing non-uniform jewelry...I told my teacher I was "expressing my individuality"...she was not impressed.
63. I am anal about color coordination.
64. I always have my toenails painted.
65. I once refused to read Gone with the Wind on the basis that it was bigger than the bible.
66. My basketball number in middle school was 12.
67. Cocoa Wheats was my absolute favorite food as a kid.
68. The only two occasions that I can remember of "having an accident" as a young child both times I tried to blame it on sitting in water (which wasn't a completely inprobable story).
69. I carry a Hello Kitty compact mirror in my purse that my dad got for me when I was like 3.
70. I have never broken a bone, but I fractured my wrist in 2nd grade roller blading in Myrtle Beach Middle School.
71. I can still derive pleasure out of watching professional wrestling.
72. I'm not gonna lie, I like poppy rap music.
73. I sort my gummy bears and M&M's by flavor/color when I eat them.
74. Cute old men make me smile.
75. Burritos and milkshakes=goodness
76. Sometimes when I listen to music about the high school, punk rock love...a part of me still wants that (even with the drama and heartache).
77. Lime is one of my favorite flavors...cherry limeade, lime chips, lime seasoned chicked...
78. I used to make up dances to Spice Girls all the time.
79. I don't floss daily like I should.
80. I did a collage on belly buttons for art class in middle school and my teacher wouldn't hang it up.
81. I want to be a judge for the National Pie contest in Florida.
82. As a kid I was really into the spy/detective thing (Harriet the Spy and Ghostwriter were favorites) so I would keep notebooks of observations and follow anything I thought was a clue (once I rode my bike around the neighbor hood following blue paint splotches).
83. On August 4, 1997 I fell in love with Jonathan Warren...that's according to my 11 year old self.
84. My dream car is a green Jeep Wrangler.
85. I have a strange fear of doors opening on my toes...like if a door opens towards me, I am always afraid someone is going to push it open and my toes and gonna get messed up.
86. I have always thought I was old for my age...it doesn't take much to convince myself that was not true.
87. I've seen the pope...three times.
88. I used to want to be on the Real World.
89. I really wanted to play the flute when I was younger but my parents told me I had to master the recorder first...it didn't happen...needless to say, I never played the flute.
90. I have an over active conscience.
91. I truly believe love is in the details.
92. I have never been in love and am quite ok with that.
93. Once, when I was around 10, I decided I was going to spend an entire day sitting in the woods...so I took my "sit-upon" and packed a lunch...I'm not sure I even made it more than an hour or so.
94. I ran away once...around the corner...sat on the side of the road...and returned shortly after.
95. I suck at emotions and communicating things that are important.
96. My brothers once told me that the sodium earthobate in hotdogs was earthworms and I did not eat hotdogs for about a year.
97. They also tried to tell my that one of my my cousin's head wasn't real...Her real head was on this really high shelf at my grandparents house.
98. I wanted to be Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All...I also wanted to be Alex Mack.
99. I saw Sharon, Lois, and Bram in concert.
100. I am a pack rat.
2. I'm listening to Dashboard Confessional right now.
3. I'm a nerd, I really like school.
4. I once made a mixed tape for a boy I liked. To this day it was probably the boldest thing I've ever done for like.
5. On most guys in most situations, I find facial hair incredibly attractive (exlcuding the solitary mustache).
6. I have been to four countries outside of the United States and have driven through or flown out of two additional ones.
7. I once spent an entire day convincing my little brother he was adopted. He later told his kindergarten teacher.
8. Carvel cake is the way to my heart.
9. Despite being raised in a church, I became a Christian at 14.
10. I've had lice.
11. I still listen to Hanson (that's including recent CDs).
12. I have been keeping a diary/journal since I was 8 1/2 years old.
13. I really like Harry Potter and sometimes wish I could go to Hogwarts.
14. I want seven kids---this could be attributed to watching a lot of 7th Heaven, but I won't say that is the sole reason.
15. I could (and sometimes do) listen to nothing but 80's music and music from musicals or Disney movies.
16. I'm 64% gross according to blogthings How Gross are You quiz.
17. Before college "exercise" was like a four letter word...and never would have been done for fun.
18. I like to blend things with the Magic Bullet.
19. I compulsively check my e-mail.
20. I cry at A Baby Story.
21. Watching Newsies makes me want to do something important and stand for something I believe in.
22. I don't watch the news or read the newspaper as much as I should to be an informed citizen.
23. Grass green is my shade of green.
24. I've gone four straight days without a shower.
25. I am pretty sure I don't want alcohol at my wedding.
26. One time in middle school, to stick it to the man, I wrote "We the People of the Back of the Room" with two fellow deviants who got sent to the back of the room.
27. Ben Moser is mostly responsible for who I am...all complaints can be directed to him.
28. Sometimes I truly think I should just have the final opinion on how things should be in the world.
29. I'm taking hip hop this semester.
30. I love taking pictures.
31. I used to want to be an actress and sometimes really regret not pursuing that dream.
32. People think I look like Katie Holmes.
33. I went to see Michael Jackson cover band last spring.
34. There are 150 people on my buddy list...I hardly talk to them all.
35. I have a copy of The Giving Tree with me at college.
36. I read non-Narnia C.S. Lewis books for fun.
37. I want to write a book and be published.
38. I don't really like talking on the phone.
39. I like to play dress up.
40. If reasonable, I would wear skirts and dresses all of the time.
41. I loathe being cold, and sometimes lose feeling in my toes when it's too cold out.
42. I collect large eyewear.
43. I was a semi-finalist for the Park Scholarship to NCSU.
44. Despite what people might think, I really don't like icebreakers.
45. I am a camp dork...seriously.
46. I did not want to go to my high school graduation.
47. I want to live in NYC for some period of my life.
48. If The Wedding Singer of Son-in-Law are on TV, I will watch it regardless of how many times I've seen them.
49. Flirting gets on my nerves.
50. I love jewelry!!!
51. I'm convinced Jesus was a good looking man.
52. I want a tatoo.
53. I believe everyone should join in on the musical of life that is already going on in my head.
54. I memorize and quote lyrics and movie lines all of the time.
55. I like to eat ice cream for breakfast.
56. I hate feet.
57. When Army recruiters kept calling me I told them I wanted to be a fasion designer and giggled a lot to get them to hang up.
58. I want to go to Africa.
59. My stomach makes weird noises all the time.
60. My watch smells but I don't want to get rid of it because it shoots lasers.
61. I caught Gregg Marshall's shirt at the last basketball game.
62. I got detention twice in middle school...once for wearing non-uniform jewelry...I told my teacher I was "expressing my individuality"...she was not impressed.
63. I am anal about color coordination.
64. I always have my toenails painted.
65. I once refused to read Gone with the Wind on the basis that it was bigger than the bible.
66. My basketball number in middle school was 12.
67. Cocoa Wheats was my absolute favorite food as a kid.
68. The only two occasions that I can remember of "having an accident" as a young child both times I tried to blame it on sitting in water (which wasn't a completely inprobable story).
69. I carry a Hello Kitty compact mirror in my purse that my dad got for me when I was like 3.
70. I have never broken a bone, but I fractured my wrist in 2nd grade roller blading in Myrtle Beach Middle School.
71. I can still derive pleasure out of watching professional wrestling.
72. I'm not gonna lie, I like poppy rap music.
73. I sort my gummy bears and M&M's by flavor/color when I eat them.
74. Cute old men make me smile.
75. Burritos and milkshakes=goodness
76. Sometimes when I listen to music about the high school, punk rock love...a part of me still wants that (even with the drama and heartache).
77. Lime is one of my favorite flavors...cherry limeade, lime chips, lime seasoned chicked...
78. I used to make up dances to Spice Girls all the time.
79. I don't floss daily like I should.
80. I did a collage on belly buttons for art class in middle school and my teacher wouldn't hang it up.
81. I want to be a judge for the National Pie contest in Florida.
82. As a kid I was really into the spy/detective thing (Harriet the Spy and Ghostwriter were favorites) so I would keep notebooks of observations and follow anything I thought was a clue (once I rode my bike around the neighbor hood following blue paint splotches).
83. On August 4, 1997 I fell in love with Jonathan Warren...that's according to my 11 year old self.
84. My dream car is a green Jeep Wrangler.
85. I have a strange fear of doors opening on my toes...like if a door opens towards me, I am always afraid someone is going to push it open and my toes and gonna get messed up.
86. I have always thought I was old for my age...it doesn't take much to convince myself that was not true.
87. I've seen the pope...three times.
88. I used to want to be on the Real World.
89. I really wanted to play the flute when I was younger but my parents told me I had to master the recorder first...it didn't happen...needless to say, I never played the flute.
90. I have an over active conscience.
91. I truly believe love is in the details.
92. I have never been in love and am quite ok with that.
93. Once, when I was around 10, I decided I was going to spend an entire day sitting in the woods...so I took my "sit-upon" and packed a lunch...I'm not sure I even made it more than an hour or so.
94. I ran away once...around the corner...sat on the side of the road...and returned shortly after.
95. I suck at emotions and communicating things that are important.
96. My brothers once told me that the sodium earthobate in hotdogs was earthworms and I did not eat hotdogs for about a year.
97. They also tried to tell my that one of my my cousin's head wasn't real...Her real head was on this really high shelf at my grandparents house.
98. I wanted to be Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All...I also wanted to be Alex Mack.
99. I saw Sharon, Lois, and Bram in concert.
100. I am a pack rat.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Take that 2006---2007 is about to rock the house down
I have met this new year with an especially high degree of excitement and enthusiasm, unnatural or abnormal even...but I am quite enjoying it this way.
I love how the new year (or school year or semester or first of the month or sunday or really any beginning) somehow conjures up in us the great sense of empowerment. It is as if, for some reason when the calendar page flips from one year into the next we are suddenly much more motivated and capable of achieving the goals, breaking the habits, or losing the weight we have been carrying around for years, previously unable to do anything about.
I say this not to mock new years resolutions, but to smile at the fact that for some amount of time we are all a little unsensibly idealistic. In fact, I have a long history of making new year's resolutions almost all of which (if not absolutely all) have never been achieved. In fact, because I am a chronic overachiever and tend to take on a "go big or go home" mentality, I actually have a habit of making an entire list of reasonably obtainable new year's resolution that so divides my attention that as a result not a single one gets the attention or dedication deserved to make it a reality. In fact, these resolutions were so significant that I remember practically none of them; although I do recall several resolutions to lose weight, work out, eat healthy, give up soda, give up candy, and other such things. In addition I pledged other things like to stop popping my knuckles, do all the reading for classes, and I believe once I even made a resolution to smooch the object of my middle school heart's affection (I'm that cool, yes, I know).
I share all this juciness for the sole purpose of saying that this new year I am truly about to burst with excitement about what's in store for the next few months (at least). I feel like God is up to something in my life, and it's a refreshing feeling to have, one that is an answer to months worth of prayers. I know I am a nerd, but I feel like God is putting more passion into my school work, I COULDN'T SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE CLASSES. I sat excited, about to pee my pants, in each new class, just wanting to learn new things. This isn't just academically. I feel like a time of hardcore spiritual growth is on the horizon for 2007. He is calling me to spend more time with Him and has been making it an urgency in my life (which is awesome) and revealing so much to me about my relationship with Him and bringing forth a lot of things I need to deal with to experience more freedom and joy! It's so exciting. Overall just a sense of excitement about life in general and a desire to learn and grow.
I might pee my pants just thinking about it, which wouldn't be too hard because one of my new years resolutions is to drink the recommended amount of water each day ;)
I love how the new year (or school year or semester or first of the month or sunday or really any beginning) somehow conjures up in us the great sense of empowerment. It is as if, for some reason when the calendar page flips from one year into the next we are suddenly much more motivated and capable of achieving the goals, breaking the habits, or losing the weight we have been carrying around for years, previously unable to do anything about.
I say this not to mock new years resolutions, but to smile at the fact that for some amount of time we are all a little unsensibly idealistic. In fact, I have a long history of making new year's resolutions almost all of which (if not absolutely all) have never been achieved. In fact, because I am a chronic overachiever and tend to take on a "go big or go home" mentality, I actually have a habit of making an entire list of reasonably obtainable new year's resolution that so divides my attention that as a result not a single one gets the attention or dedication deserved to make it a reality. In fact, these resolutions were so significant that I remember practically none of them; although I do recall several resolutions to lose weight, work out, eat healthy, give up soda, give up candy, and other such things. In addition I pledged other things like to stop popping my knuckles, do all the reading for classes, and I believe once I even made a resolution to smooch the object of my middle school heart's affection (I'm that cool, yes, I know).
I share all this juciness for the sole purpose of saying that this new year I am truly about to burst with excitement about what's in store for the next few months (at least). I feel like God is up to something in my life, and it's a refreshing feeling to have, one that is an answer to months worth of prayers. I know I am a nerd, but I feel like God is putting more passion into my school work, I COULDN'T SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE CLASSES. I sat excited, about to pee my pants, in each new class, just wanting to learn new things. This isn't just academically. I feel like a time of hardcore spiritual growth is on the horizon for 2007. He is calling me to spend more time with Him and has been making it an urgency in my life (which is awesome) and revealing so much to me about my relationship with Him and bringing forth a lot of things I need to deal with to experience more freedom and joy! It's so exciting. Overall just a sense of excitement about life in general and a desire to learn and grow.
I might pee my pants just thinking about it, which wouldn't be too hard because one of my new years resolutions is to drink the recommended amount of water each day ;)
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