photo from emilydarby

I read this this morning... you ever find it funny/ironic... when you are in something and you think you just can't go on... no relief seems to come your way and just as you are at your end... you are flooded by GOd's grace and blessings... THis is just the last of those blessings... God is so good and I am glad he knows my heart better then i do... I just can't imagine life without him.--

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen By Elizabeth Elliot.

When we begin to imagine that our own problems are so deep, so insoluble, or so unusual that no one really understands us, we delude ourselves. It is one of the many delusions of pride, for Scripture tells us not only that our High Priest, Christ, has been tempted in every way as we are, but that no temptation has ever come our way that is not common to man. There are no more new temptations than there are new sins. Our story, whatever it is, is an old one, and He who has walked the human road has entered fully into our experiences of sorrow and pain and has overcome them. He has comforted others in our situation, gone with them into the same furnaces and lions' dens, has brought them out without smell of fire or mark of tooth.

It is a bad thing to take refuge in difficulties, thus excusing ourselves from responsibility to others because we think our situation is unique. If we are willing to receive help, our Helper is standing by--sometimes in the form of another human being sent by Him, qualified by Him to help us. It may be a case of our not receiving help because we were too proud to receive the kind God sent. Sometimes we really prefer to wallow.

"Ours is not a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who, because of his likeness to us, has been tested every way, only without sin. Let us therefore boldly approach the throne of our gracious God, where we may receive mercy and in his grace find timely help" (Heb 4:15, 16 NEB).

yay phusebox is at schoool. that rocks my socks off.

you guys have an awesome day!!

not feeling to well today!!! im really happy i have off tomorrow!!!

got my books for school....over $300 soo i did pretty good.....tha only book i wanted was my music book...b/c that tha only class and bowling that i care that im taking!!! pretty sure my math book weighs like 20 pounds!!

Love Through Christ!
~Rachel~

soo my dad isnt to happy at tha moment....and he isnt even in town...at a couple of my friends!!! i could see y he isnt happy w/ them!!! ya know friends are supposed to support you if they feel like your doing tha right thing....well they thought i was but yet they stabbed me in tha back...soo yeah please pray for me

work was long but easy today! got only a 5 hour 4 hour shift tomorrow im excited!!!

goin to Elizs house to help her pack tomorrow!!! man im gonna miss her!! but were gonna have fun tomorrow!!!

i really need to go to walmart!

AO thursday night....im excited!!

well im off to beddy!

Love Through Christ!
~Rachel~

hey check out the new pics in my album. they're from last year. are you in them? i dunno you'll have to seee!!

“I am both sad and happy and I am still trying to figure out how that could be.”

_the perks of being a wallflower

Google Talk, Google's much anticipated and rumored instant messaging client was released just minutes ago. With a Jabber open-source backend, Google Talk is able to communicate not only with other Google Talk users but also several chat systems such as the highly populated AIM.





Google also is audio chat enabled, rivaling Skype networks. This voice chat feature is sure to catch on quickly and with Google's advanced R&D, it is almost certain to blow Skype and other similar services from existence.

This is yet another move that will put Google head to head with other companies in technologies other than search.

Head over to Google Talk to download the Google Talk chat client.

And if you want a stock tip, Google Stock  shows no signs of slowing down even at $279.58 per share. This stock will continue to go up until Google pulls the plug on their R&D center (which does not look like will happen for quite some time). Funny how a few college students can turn a small search project into one of the largest companies on the planet.

i definatley forgot bout this thing bc i got a myspace too lol...i only know like 1 person for real taht has this! baha...but oh well...umm so im definatley over that guy in the last entry hes a dickwad!!...but yah so its real weird but i think im kinda a little in to this freshman at my school...lol i mean hes really hot!!!!! hes liek one of the only cute guys at my school...ive had some hookups with other people latley haha weekends at my firends house lol all her brothers friends but yah i really think im startin to like this freshman over every1!...so idk i mean im to scared to tell him i mean his older bro is in my class!!...lol im in 10th of course so it aint liek weird or nuthin but dayum all i wanna know is what happened to his bro and y dont he look liek his little bro does lol...theyre both fun tho! but yah i guess thats all for now!!...♥cammie

Something that is rarely discussed ((and most certainly even rarer given the circumstances)) comes up randomly in a conversation I recently had with someone.

. . . are conversations such as these from the Lord? Does He try to tell us something through these types of random encounters?

I wish I had someone to talk to.

Today was a great day. Well...kind of. It was only mediocre untill after school. We started our first bible study today with me, ben, john, alex, Gibelyou, Clint, and Kash. Wow it was just...wow. Amazing and fun. I can tell God has just got some amazing things in store for us and I can't wait to see what it is. If anybody else is interested in joining our bible study group, you can talk to one of us. But we are limiting it to mostly juniors and seniors...maybe with a few exceptions...so talk to us first. But like I said, I think we all will grow as christian guys this year because we have not one but 2 great on-fire for Christ leaders to teach us the word. AS YOU CAN TELL I AM PUMPED!!!! lol. Oh and by the way, congrats to the Siegel soccer girls for a great game tonight. But anyways, its getting late...and school is tomorrow. So i'll talk to you guys later. I'm out.

G

So, I'm about to head off to college and leave everyone behind. To be honest, it is the strangest mixture of emotions I think I've ever had. On the one hand, I am scared out of my mind. On the other, I have a strange peace about it all. Not a peace that makes me fell peacefull on the surface, but when I really did down into my deepest feelings, all I can find is this strange peace. It's kinda cool. I am just so afraid that things won't turn out the way I have hoped. I have hung everything upon this leap of faith. I've never had to do anything quite this extreme based on very little other than a contant quiet assurance that has to be from God. The weird thing is, I can barely detect it, so it makes it kinda scary to go off of, but as I have said, when I dig down deep, I know this is where I am supposed to be, whether I like it or not. Another fear is that I will get there and be doing what God wants me to do, but that it will be a huge trial for me. I know that He will make me strong enough, but it still haunts me, y'know. Especially since it seems that the first fourteen years of my life seem to have been focused on giving me endurance, and so I wonder if that will come into play know. What exactly do I need such a capacity to endure. Anyway, I would feel much better if I knew that you guys were praying for me. It would mean a ton. I love you guys.

In Christ,
Zach

Life is full of choices. Unfortunately, I'm horrible at making decisions!

Language is so important...if anyone of you knows that about me...you'd better if you don't!

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English
15% Dixie
15% Yankee
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern


What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

♥ band went so well tonight we put the last 11 sets on the field ans we end in acompany front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its so cool for those non band kids it looks like this


00000000000000000000000000000000000000

its a straight line with the whole band and we are ON the front side line its gonna be the best

practice was soo good thought we had the focus level through the roof

GOOD JOB BAND !!!!!!

Well...I leave on Thursday...I haven't yet begun to pack! I've been too busy hanging out with my bestest friend LizBeth! We've been scrapbooking...mmm...love!

Rachel is supposed to be coming over tomorrow to help me pack! YAY for Rachel!! Maybe I'll get some packing done before she gets here...or maybe not...who know??

So I'm just gonna write a list of names of all the people I'm gonna miss...tell me if I forget you!

Amy
Ashley
Rachel
Dena
Lauren B.
Lauren N.
Jac
Patty
Jessimica
LizBeth
Gracie
Jason
Kyle
Alex
Britt
Whitney
Benjamin
D-$$...lol Lauren!
The Orignial shhh!!

tonight i spent some time watching the thunder and listening to the lightning. with God all things are possible.

"...i'm not afraid to die. to see you, to meet you, to see you at last..."

okay so this stuff isnt has hard as i thought it was..but anyways school is alright i love my classes..how are you liken school?!

so, i have 2-5 jazz runs at the end of the drum solo. and there are 2 of them. i look like a baboon that is trying to take flight, and is failing miserably.

and i landed on the side of my ankle, twice.

gotta love band.

ok i wrote a poem tell me if you like it---(wait im not sure if its a poem actually lol just something i wrote)

I miss him
I long his touch
I know he is the one
but maybe i dont suit him
who knows?
what if he moved on?
my heart aches to think that
i always feel so empty and alone
like no one is there to pick me up when i fall
is this what i really want?

---i bet you never thought i could come up with something so meaningfull lol---

much love
amber

Praise Jesus for struggles! thats all I got

photo from sarah

so today i finally made it to the beach, after talkin about going for 2 months. went to south beach on staten island. only took an hour and a half and it was free transportation. not too bad in comparison to 3 hours out to long island for $20. but anyway, laid out for 2 1/2 hours and got completely burnt :) it couldn't have been a better day! it was in the lower 80s and the sun was shining bright and there was a constant breeze-such a lovely day. and it's supposed to be the same for the rest of the week!!!

I'm between class and work for lunch mwf from 11:15-12, I'll probably eat lunch in the grill, who's with me?

I just wanted to be home by myself all day.

I wanted to chill out, take a short nap [got those done no problem], do some laundry, do my homework, maby work out or clean my room.

I just wanted to do it without being told to.

I wanted to do it when nobody else was around so I wouldn't feel like I had to prove that I'm responsible.

So of course, right after I change clothes to get started working, and right before I start sorting laundry - my dad waltzes in.

"blahblahblah"-something stupid about JROTC that I don't really give a damn about and I can't for the life of me figure out why he thinks I would.

Come on, Dad... don't say it...

"blahdy-freakin'-dah"

It's bad enough that you came home while I was still here... Please don't say it...

"How much homework do you have?"

DAMMIT!

Is it that hard?

And is it so wrong that I would FOR ONCE like to do something responsible without being told to do it first?

Jeezy creezy... I know he's just trying to be a good parent and make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. But believe it or not, I'm a lot more motivated to do something when I don't have someone hounding me all the time.

I seriously can't do the homework. Not right now, anyways.

I think I'll throw in a load of clothes [I really really need them] and head out to Cat's or Digital Planet. I want to get a new CD. I might as well take my time browsing.

Life is stressful. Fundraisers, hw in every class, posters, flyers, getting 50 signatures just to RUN for student council, brothers, running against one of your best friends for student council, and learning a dance that i am horrible at. Yes. That is what makes life stressful.

dude lockers are crazy...they dont like me....they want to eat me and through spiders at me...sorry i got attacked by a spider that was crawling around in my locker today...and it freaked me out!!!well yeah and then i bought a new one..hahaha!i beat the locker!!!bye bye
stacy

I want to make music videos. TODAY. I want a group of you to show up at my house with a video camera and ready to go. NOW.

"Work" has been going well. I've been seeing some old friends which is cool. I helped Kelly with some of her guidance office grunt work stuffing mailboxes... fun times! I seriously need to take a picture of the closet room that we have been spending most of our time filing stuff. It's INSANE.

Well... sorry I have nothing real worthwhile to say. Just don't forget about the video camera... ha ha...

Quote of the day:
*Student walks in guidance office*
"They don't have a clock in the living room."
*We all stare at him*
"I mean... cafeteria."

so all of my friends are getting sick
(i'm probably next)
eeeek

according to Brett i'm a pretty mutt

my cat is playing "let's piss off abby" today
he's winning

went on a "nature walk" in biology today. it was really funny. only at oakland will your abiotic factors consist of an old microwave, pizza boxes, and beer cans.

tony uses my head as an arm-rest

he thinks i'm too short
he's just too tall

eeeek!!! hormones
WHY can't i think of anything but you??
seriously.. you're depriving me of sleep.

abby

hehehe
okay this guy name chance
sweeet & everything
went up to Rachel
& this was the convo

chance- hey
rachel- hey
chance- you're friends with Jamie right?
rachel- [laughs] yeah why?
chance- does she have a boyfriend?
rachel- uh sort of
chance- what is that supposed to mean?
rachel- well this guy likes her & she likes him
& they have been seeing each other but they are NOT going out
chance- oh okay [walks away]

:D someone likes me at school
this just made my day even better < 3

i am sick as a dog. less than two weeks until i go home and i get sick for the first time since i left. that's just my luck.

K-Town is so much better than Murfreesboro.

Knoxville: a drinking town with a football problem. (saw that on a shirt..haha!)

10 days till football season..aha!

I love this town.

HEY HEY EVERYONE IF YOU KNOW ME THEN THATS GREAT LEAVE ME A POST IF NOT THEN LEAVE ME ONE ANYWAY AND I WILL GET BACK TO YOU IF YOU ARE A GUY LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME GO SOMEWERE ELSA I AM MARRIED BOYS.

LOVE YA, LINDSAY SADLER VANEPPS

I think I'm going to try this thing out... Everyones got one! lol-following the crowd! So I'm gonna go explore and try to figure all this stuff out!
God Bless!
~Mantha

aaaah! i'm starving!!! i just realized that it's 2:43 and i haven't eaten since 9!!! lol... i think i'll get something before work... i know it was random... but that's what i'm feeling. lol

p.s. 12 more days!

Being 19 is a lot like being 18, only +1.

Day 2 of college is complete, at least the classes. Today was good. I only have two classes on tuesday and thursday! The only bummer about that deal is one of the classes is Greek! Man it is so hard. I have to be able to read greek tomorrow!!!!!! I just learned the alphabet last night!!!!!! It's really scaring me how fast we are going through the material. I went to Communicating the Gospel today. It seems like it will be a very helpful class if I am ever to preach in front of people. I am terrefied of public speaking but I am extremly excited about what this class is going to teach me. Another cool thing about this class is that I have the same teacher (Dr.York) as I did for my Life beyond the matrix class last year. I really liked him then. He is very theologically minded. Very deep in other words. I can't wait to see what I am going to learn in this class. A cool thing Lipscomb does is a 24hr pray room at the begining of the school year. I got to go pray last night for Lipscomb and the school year and all the students. Today at chapel time we closed the 24 hrs of praying with a prayer service. It was cool to be a part of all of that this year. I guess last year I was too busy doing freshman things to stop and go to the prayer room.
So things are going good, I might write a little more later but I need to go buy some books right now so until then I hope everyone is having a good day.

Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you beleive in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy
1Peter 1:8

RICHARDALEXANDERLEWIS





R

is for

Radical





I

is for

Irresistible





C

is for

Chipper





H

is for

Healthy





A

is for

Active





R

is for

Refined





D

is for

Deadly





A

is for

Awesome





L

is for

Loud





E

is for

Enthusiastic





X

is for

Xtra Cool





A

is for

Altruistic





N

is for

Nice





D

is for

Dramatic





E

is for

Explosive





R

is for

Radiant





L

is for

Loving





E

is for

Enlightened





W

is for

Wild





I

is for

Inspirational





S

is for

Sporty







What Does Your Name Mean?

well i went to MTSU today to fill out yet more forms for my new 'job', and i found out that my first day is this thursday and i get to work 9 whole hours. oh the excitement, lol. but hey its good money and im not doin anythin else so why not right? but anyway, i also got my books think they came out around $475.00 or something like that. but i walked my classes and stuff, so i wont get lost on my first day. but anyway, need to go hope to see everyone for one last wednesday before i move up. but anyway mucho luvies to all! and here is my schedule for anybody who has free time same as me jus give me a call!

Bio: MWF 8:00-8:55
Hist: MWF 9:10-10:05
Psy: MWF 10:20-11:15
Math: MWF 11:30-12:25
Eng(Honors): TTR 8:00-9:25
Lab: T 11:20-2:05

happy new school year to all and to all a good night!

I've come to realize that I too often rely too much on self! I began reading the Ragamuffin Gospel last night and I realize that I have fallen into the misconception that Christianity is a selfish attainment. That, through my own efforts, I can earn the grace, approval, and forgiveness of God! HA! Now that I realize how ridiculous that is, I scoff! Ephesians 2:8, "For by GRACE you have been saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD." Romans 2:4, "...GOD'S kindness LEADS YOU to repentance". If we could earn these things ourselves then what would be the need in a God? And if we could earn these things then what standard would be used to justify your receiving these gifts? I am thankful that I don't have to answer these questions.

However, through meeting with Bro. Eric today, I also realized that this doesn't allow me an excuse to be lackadaisical. We still have standards. Matthew 5:48, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." As Brennan Manning points out in the Ragamuffin Gospel, Christianity is not an instant transformation into perfection. It is a goal we, by the grace and faith of God, work towards. It takes a great practice of self discipline/control and sacrifice. 2 Peter 1:4-8, "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in our faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I am excited about the community that God is brining together and has allowed me to be a part. I pray that we can be a true community and hold each other accountable to the standards that we are called too. Its not always fun, easy, or nice. But, I believe accountability is an integral part of our growth. I want you guys to hold me to that standard, to challenge me. I love you guys more than you will ever know and that I will ever be able to show you.

Alas! My poetic career has died. Upon its completion I did indeed send my declaration of deepest desire for publication, only to be scorned for its “imbecilic grammatical structure, hackneyed phrasing and theme, and simplistic arrangement.” I see it so clearly now. Its inconsistent rhythmic scheme and weak stanzas mock me. That the expression of my “love” must languish in the styleless confines of so pallid a poem rends the very fabric of my sanity! No, I cannot look upon it any longer; it must be banished forever from memory. It must never, ever return!

I am learning to let go
Dreams aren’t always for keeps
Sometimes we get them for a moment
Sometimes for a lifetime
You were my dream
Now we must fade away my friend
Wait for the next time our paths may cross
Thankful for the moments I had
Thankful for you

I am learning to let go
Saying goodbye to piece of my heart
Saying hello to the future
I may be letting you go for now, Baby
But one day we will be together again
If not in this lifetime
Maybe the next
I was blessed for the times we share
Thankful for tomorrow
Thankful for you

I am learning to let go
Everyday that goes by without you
Is bittersweet
Sadness soaks my heart
But the promise of a lifetime hangs in view
We may not be together soon
But forever you are in my heart
Thankful for promises
THanful for you

I am learning to let go
Expectations keep me attached to you
Needing to say goodbye to dreams
And hello to reality
I love you with my whole heart
Till we meet again my sweet
Till that day
I will learn to let go.

So my school is full of idiots! They won't let me into my xanga site but they'll let me in here.. Oh yeah they're good! So not much else to say.. adios

So I feel like I am in a Friends episode. The woman in the building across from our office was curled up in the window eating something in a bowl with no clothes on. She didn't even care if we could see her or not. It blows my mind!

Hey, it's Tuesday. Which means: THEOCSEASON2ONDVD

woot

though i'm sure none of you care.

A few weeks ago, I posted about "Lessons". There were several suggestions about what God may be trying to teach me. I think I may have stumbled upon the answer.

God is sovereign. Most of us have heard this many times in church; I've always acknowledged it in a passive sort of way, "Of course, God is sovereign. Duh.". I'm beginning to comprehend just how sovereign He is. Throughout the recent past, I've been/am in situations where I have no/little control. I've been in helpless situations before and started the lessons in dependence and patience. But, previous experiences had not begun the lesson of sovereignty.

Current situations, while strengthening my patience and dependence, have forced me to open my eyes and realize that God's sovereignty is the father of all these other virtues.
Just like King Nebby in Daniel, "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have you done?"" --Daniel 4:35 I am patiently depending on His love and righteousness because I am totally out of control.

His sovereignty will ALWAYS prevail!

I leave for the AO Leadership Retreat in about eight hours. Pray for unity and humility in the 31 people going. Pray that our bodies will be refreshed for the whirlwind of a semester we have coming (a few of us are running past empty in preparation for it all).

Friday is my last day at Chick-fil-A... i guess i have mixed feelings about it. i'm ready to move on... but not ready to let friends go... Friday will deffinately be tear filled... that's a given.

13 days until i leave for college!!! woohoo!!!yeah... life is crazy... summer is wrapping up. but i think it's in a good way this time. i love you guys!!! ~Hope

"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as the Father [correcteth] the son in whom he delighteth." -Proverbs 3:11-12

I really miss New York. Please pray about what God is saying to me. Y'all are an awesome witness of what the Family of God is.

There is a video store in Oxford called As Seen On TV. It is perhaps the best thing about this town. Unlike mega-chains like Blockbuster, this place carries arthouse documentaries and film festival selections. During the past semester, I have wiped the shelves clean of foreign and independent films. Tonight Pannell and I watched quite possibly the most disturbing documentary I have ever seen.

The documentary "Tarnation" is about the life of a homosexual man named Jonathan and his attempts to come to terms with the past and present of his model turned psychotic mother who was destroyed by electroshock treatments. It was disturbing because the lack of hope, the lack of faith in anything, the lack of security was completely and unabashedly real.

We take so many things for granted. The bed I sleep in, the food I eat, the air I breathe are all wonderful blessings of God. I am thankful for them.

But do I truly realize how blessed I am? Do any of us?

We are spoiled and can't see how great everything is that we have. We take our friends, our families and so many other things for granted.

It has been difficult for me to really understand what Christ meant by the word "love." God is Love; Love lends a man over to dying for his friends; Love brought redemption to man--do I actually know that Love?

No. I don't think I do.

I pray I never take you or Him for granted. I am blessed. I Love you.

For those of you who don't know, or who have shady details, my grandpa was in a bad motorcycle accident on Sunday evening. He was riding the back roads near Milton, like always, when his back tire slid off of the road. The bike flipped, throwing him off, and then landed on top of him. Some people were near when it happened, and an ambulance took him to MTMC. He broke his collar bone, several ribs, his leg, and he also fractured one of his vertebrae, I believe. He also has a bruised lung. They needed to operate on his leg, but because of the bruised lung, they had to take extra precautions with the anesthesia. So, they took him to Vanderbilt for the surgery, which turned out okay. Their main concern now is that if the broken leg does not stop swelling, they will have to do another surgery in which a large incision must be made to relieve the pressure off of the nerve.

He is in stable condition.

I feel so battered. But, in light of all of this, I say praise be unto the High and Glorified One Who binds up the broken hearted. Praise be to our Sovereign King! Grandpa survived the accident. He's going to be okay. He'll be okay. I was so distraught Sunday, but God had me covered from the outset. I called Clint who, in turn, led all of the rec guys to pray for my family. Chris showed up at the hospital and prayed with me, and later Clint and Rachel showed up and prayed with us, too.

Everyone, everyone who prayed for us, who continues to pray for us, thank you. Praise God for friends, warrior brothers and sisters, who love us and are there for my family and I when we need you. Praise God for you! And Glory and Honor be unto our Lovely Father, who protected Grandpa Jay when he wrecked, who is there to bind the broken hearts of my Grandma Nancy, of my Mom and my aunts, of my brother and me. Praise be to our Father who heard my plea for reinforcements, and was faithful to answer in a way like I could not imagine.


Thank you, Daddy, my True Father.

Thank you.

Thank you, everyone, all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, every single one of you that lifted my family up in prayer.

I love you all so much. Please, please know that. I love you in Christ Jesus.

Tonight, PhuseBox finally reached 800 users (awesome)! Continue to spread the word about the site. I am continuing to work on the greenbox project and it is really starting to take shape. As many of you know, I am recoding the new version from scratch and so it will be much better with many more features.

One of the coolest new features that many users will enjoy is the ability to easily publish as many photos into an entry with a simple click... and you are able to preview your entry (with photos) as you type... very nice.

Feel free to continue to let me know of features that you would like to see in the new version of the site!

-Nathan Moore

Well... I am soo stressed about moving!! I don't even know why..I mean I am ready and everything..but just having to pack and leave is what is stressing me!! It is killin me!! AGHHHHHHH........... It is crazy!! I am gonna need some help!! LOL!!

Night with my girls tomorrow!! I can't wait!! Ash and I are gonna wash our cars..LOL!! AT NIGHT!!! it is gonna be fun!!!

Wow..Andrea is so busy...blaaah keep praying for me please!

Me and Lauren!!



photo from GodsGirl615

this heat needs to go away right now ...

it's amazing what can happen to so many people in such a short time span. there's so many things to be praying for, and it's just the 2nd week of school.



photo from blue_lips

my favorite freshman!!!



photo from blue_lips

i miss San Ant[i]onio.

i hope this upcoming year is as good as the last. i already miss so many people i'm not in classes with anymore, but as in latin amor omnia vincet ...

love you all...

p.s. can someone show me how to do hearts?

I got the privilege tonight to spend an evening just worshipping with 5 beautiful women... was able to soak in their wisdom and weaknesses as well as being allowed to be a vulnerable little girl and share what God is or isn't doing with me... it was just so precious... God is so good. He knows what we need when we need it and how we need it... Then on the train I was listening to my CD player (my ipod is still dead) and this song that I have listened to a thousand times in the last week finally soaked in... It totally hit to the core of what I am dealing with.

All I know- Matt Wertz

I don't know how the stars hang
Or how there is night and there is day
I don't know you spoke into the black
and made it all obey

All I know is the bleeding in my heart
and the healing your touch
all I know is that you gave everything
so let that be enough
This is all I know
Its all I know

I don't know how your love works
How you cover me in grace
I don't know how you swallow all I am
When I can't stand my taste

All I know is the bleeding in my heart
and the healing your touch
all I know is that you gave everything
so let that be enough
This is all I know

I can't explain your mystery
But I know the answer
Its all I know

Seriously, what's going on? Why does all this motherglahdfoiafjoknd crap keep happening to me? And why can't I just suck it up and get over it?

WHY AM I BROODING?

TELL ME WHY!!!

As of right now: I quit driving. Forever. I'm tired of almost-dying on a daily basis.

Okay, I don't mean it. Even if it means I'm probably going to die sometime in the next week or so.

What can I say? I'm a hazard to myself and society.

[[edit]]

I appear to have miscommunicated. It is pretty much life in all it's generalness that I'm fed up with, not just driving.

Driving just happened to be the most immediate thing to have pissed me off / almost killed me.

Then I saw the spider. [see below.]

[[un-edit]]

I killed a brown recluse that was dangling from my cieling [near the wall].

I think he [or she] was trying to get behind my dresser to set up fort.

*twitch*

So college is fast approaching, and I have no idea where I want to go...I mean, almost any school I apply I could get into, I just have to pick what I want. And that is just the problem...I dont know what I want.

At first I thought that I really wanted to go to UT. I mean it's guarenteed that I would get paid to go there. and plus I can get even more money for being an atheletic trainer there.

Then there is big Vandy...it would be great to go there, but there is the whole tuition thing...but my parents said don't worry about that, but I can't help but say to myself, why go and pay 40,000 a year when I can still get educated for free.

And finally there is Duke...perhaps it is my dream school- if I knew what my dream school was. But it is even more expensive, and plus its out of state. I just don't know.

At first I thought that I wanted a really small school, and then I thought I wanted a really big school, and now I just don't know. I'm so scared. The worst part is I have a spectrum meeting with Mrs. Cain and she is going to ask me about colleges.

...back in the Queen City! The very first thought when I drove by uptown Charlotte and saw the city skyline at almost 2 in the morning was "This isn't my home". I can't tell you all how many times I've thought about that since then. It seems so odd, because I never felt like this wasn't my home, at least until now.

I have absolutely no clue as to what I'll be doing now. Work...at least I have a part time job at a local Christian bookstore that I can fall back into. Full time work...hmmm...that's a good question, i'm not sure even where to start. Graduate school/Seminary...uhh...i don't know...i'm so tired of school work, even if I did enjoy it, i don't know if I can endure it. So here i am desparately praying that God would give me even a hint of a clue. Why is He doing what He's doing? I have absolutely no clue.

I feel so completely alone. I already miss the constant companions that I've had for the past 2 and a half months. Yes, even when I wanted to be alone, at least you guys were there.

I am trying so hard to contend with these feelings of failure...i know the enemy is trying to attack me. As much as I love the people of my church, I don't know how to even begin to explain all the things that have transpired. And I know they're very curious. Some friends of mine were sitting with me in in the young adult Bible study last Sunday morning, Ani and Laura asked me why I had returned. After telling them that God just didn't have me there for a year, Laura flat out said that I'd just given her the sweet, short answer and that she wanted to know the entire reason. "Yeah, easier said than done", I thought.

Guys, please, please keep me in your prayers. And if you get any time, please give me a call. I would definitely love to hear from you!
Cell: 704-562-72-42
Home: 704-525-65-60

photo from oh_so_pretty


photo from oh_so_pretty


photo from oh_so_pretty
camp pictures woo hoo! bout time huh. well school has officially started and i can tell its going to be a pretty hard year with all the classes i have to take. but i mean ive heard that junior year is pretty hard reguardless..so yeah. it'll be cool. lots of stuff to be excited about..like im defiently looking forward to this cross country season. already have some amazingly cool kids in my classes and the schedule totally rocks.
but on another note..um this weekend was MUCHO fun. went to the game on friday night. got to watch siegel vs riverdale. yeah it was cool. later me and julie hit siegel elementary playground where we just happend to bump into abby and allie=) so that was fun. so um later we went home and went to bed because we had a meet earlyyy the next day. that was pretty cool we ran the 5k and ive never run that before. but yeah so im just rambeling buuut i hope that u guys have a great week! much love

photo from BeautyFromPain

. . . I had no idea.

Lauren and I went in and got the motherload today. It was one of those things where it was so dumfoundedly shocking, that all we could do was laugh. . . a lot. Haha.

. . . and let's throw in that I have to make a car payment and buy my tags in the next week or so.

One cool thing about today: I saw my 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teacher ((same person)) at Phillip's while I was waiting for them to be picked up.

Do I look like a hippie? Seriously, lol. A guy I work with threw a fit because he said I looked like one.

life has been going at a fast pace over the last couple of days! it just doesn't seem that it has been a year since bruce has died. on saturday it was one of those days i was like well i was doing this last year. God has really used his life to impact others. i am so thankful God let me be a small part of the dvd we are using. well today at school the good ole cell phone rang in 6th period (mrs. swan's class) and she took it up, BUT God interveaned into the situated and she gave it back to me just saying don't do it again. I guess it goes to prove that when you be nice to some of the meanest teachers it comes back to help you!! oh yea mrs. swan is really cool when you give her a chance. i mean she likes to give work but you can't fight evil with evil. even though she gives homework every night i try to be nice to her and help her and she helps me like today. so yea i juess those people who said drop her might need to re think she is tough but she has a nice side when your nice to her. so yea later-stephen

well my weekend was pretty awesome....had a b-day party for some of the girls and then had a kida guard girls night out at my house and that was funa dn exciting.....sunday did NOTHING!!! i slept like all day i felt really bad but oh well i needed that sleep....

pretty sure friday was our first game (peroformance) and it sucked big time or for the guard anyways!!! well that's about to change the captians have had about all they can take of people not caring sooo....if you get yelled at sorry!!!! not really it's your own fault....

i really hate people who are ina group sport that don't care it gets on my nerves sooo bad....so yeah that's not going to be the case anymore!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well kids im done and im going to go....
I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
GOD BLESS!!!!!
Leah

God has blessed u!!!!!!!!! u dont know how good u have it, until u hit or see people that have hit rock bottom and think they have nothing. it breaks your heart and theirs, just to see how they are living

Way to top off emo day, with an emo attitude.

*sigh*

I Pray for the Day when you dont have to worry about me anymore......

today was good....i like working at a clothing store...i found some things that i liked...soo Densie told me how to put them aside for me!!! i was exctied!!!

tonight....after i went to tha tanning bed....i just decided im gonna just go for a drive!!! it felt good to blast Kutless and really have time to myself to think about a lot of things!!!

Eddie got baptized last night!!! YAY!!! went to Robins apartment w/ Jamie Whitney Lauren Crystal, AJ, Shaun, Alex and Eddie!!! had a blast!!! me and Jamie sat and just talked while they were gone gettin food!!! o i hate tha movie American Pie! i hope to never have tha chance to see that movie again!!! i learned some new things about cars last night!!!

i got a book from MTSu GREEK LIFE.....okay nope sorry i dont want to join you!!!

well im out!!

Love Through Christ!
~Rachel~

School is great.

I made Singers. yay.

I love you all

yes yes yes. that's the truth of it ladies and gents. I'm living in Orlando and I'm turning British. Most people in Orlando are definetly not from here, or it's just SUPER exaggerated inside Disney World. I stood outside today for about 6&1/2 hours working and after about 200 brits pass through your line(with VERY sexy accents) you start speaking that way.

I do hate it in a way, b/c I hope they don't think i'm making fun, but it kinda just happens

I've also been getting all sorts of spanish practice here, which I really do like, b/c practice makes perfect!!!

I'm cooking tonight, I also got all sorts of recipies from my grandmother. I do enjoy cooking. . .I'm not so good at cleaning, but i'll get better!

Working again tomorrow from 12-7. . .I just kinda pray that it's not at the SpaceDog. . .::sigh:: that's getting really old, really quick!

Kelsey Caffy: "De donde eres?" (Where are you from?)
Daniel Kimbell: "Tus pantalones." (your pants...)

i love school...

if my stepdad died, i not lose ANY sleep....that sums up my feelings at the moment. Got DRUM SOLO music, oh yeah.....pretty excited.

who is your favorite celebrity?
later

i don't feel well. i really hope i'm not sick. that would suck.

yes, I had fun Saturday and I love my white rose. Brett fell asleep in my arms like a baby and it's the greatest feeling in the world....being in his arms....::sigh::....but his dad had a heart attack and I'm praying for them. His mom seemed worried today....so I hope it's all okay.....goodness, I hope so....

"Leadership is action not a postion."
-Donald H. McGannon

People amaze me...i never knew so many ppl pay attention to what i wear.. One day i dressed like alternative and i had so many ppl come up to me and go OMG you remind me of "so and so" and im like ok? and then i got woa thats hot..woa you look like madonna?!?! the funniest one was my brothers girlfriend came up to him and was like.."Jareth...did you know your sister dressed alternative today?" hes like umm yea she does that sometimes haha and she goes "Well its cute but my mom would just kill me if i did that!" i was crackin up..ive gottn like a compliment like everyday...these ppl have nothing better to do..sad lol but todays compliment was the weirdest...this girl in my English class said i looked like barbie..and then the guy beside her said no..a punk-rock barbie! i was like yall are HIGH! haha so now they call me barbie...What is the world comming to?

mmm so i broke my toe.

it's red and purple at the moment.

not much more to say.

photo from Trademarkofdoom

I write, and I come to a conclusion. "What if stu was radioactive?" So..
Enjoy

Today would be Josh and I's two year anniversary. I wonder if he'll think about me today. I wonder if he remembers at all???

Hey everybody! I have been thinking alot about brokeness. I have been talking to alot of people about brokeness. It seems as though so many of us are experiencing some type of brokeness. In fact enough people that God decided to use the pastor who spoke on sunday, to speak about brokeness. I thought that was so powerful! I was reading his word and he just spoke to me about allowing brokeness and how much trust it takes in the lord to go through a broken point in our life. David's plea for mercy demonstrates his profound trust in the goodness and love of God. Even though he believes he is physically and emotionally tormented because of his own sin and God's resulting discipline, he does not try to hide from God and lick his wounds. Rather than withdrawing from the One who is bringing him agony, David seeks him out and, in childlike trust in a Father who loves even while he wounds, David begs for God to relent and restore him. Just like Job; who has everything taken from him but still he says " Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job trust that the Lord is good, that He is faithful. God knows what he is doing and it is for the best! Job did not charge God with wrongdoing or hide and lick his own wounds.He also didn't have to know why everything was happening to obey. He intrusted his pain and suffering to his Abba Father. He turned and sought out the Lord for His healing, His timing! And if you read the end of Job then you will know that God was faithful and good! We to can have the same confidence. Even when we suffer the consequences of our sin or maybe God just wants us to know His love for us on a more intimate level; Sometimes that requires suffering and pain, to go through the wilderness; our merciful God wants to reestablish us in His grace. So "Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surly as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:1-3. Be encouraged that God is doing a great work in your life!! And you don't always have to know why everything happens the way it happens. Just trust the Beautiful Lord. It's like a good friend of mine had told me once; God does'nt call us to know why but he calls us to just obey! He is faithful to complete his work in you! HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH!!!! I love you guys thanks so much for the prayers,and calls and encourging words I dont know what I would do without Yall.....Haley

alright then. a month with no posts. i think that proves my point. or that i am incredibly lazy.
but anyways, to sum up the month, i went to florida, built a pool, chased some goooses, and came back just in time for school.
school's alright, got two classes with sam this year, art and history, and history so far isn't as bad as it was made out to be.
so you know what movie's hilarious? 40 year old virgin.
very funny stuff, went to see it with sam on friday. highly recommended. although you do have to sneak in if you're not 17.. heh.. how fun.
alright that's all, peoples. have a good month.

-andrew

the song "never alone"
never gets old.
it makes me love God even more. < 3

outside it felt good
but school was boring.
cept Spanish
because this guy Darius is in there
& he makes me laugh everyday
he's cool aha.
I love highschool
I love the people too.
so much better than Mcfadden
I don't miss it one bit
well maybe Mr. Leach, Mr. Nichols, & Nolan
but that's it ahaha.

I am pretty much all around happy
that's rare for me
just hope it lasts for awhile.
read yesterday's entry if you want to know

well okay
there's one thing still bothering me
I hatehatehate it when people start talking to me
& then just out of no where stop
:[ it stinks.

well I love you guys.
got new pictures. :D
ch-ch-check em out ahaha.

xoxo-

this is teh funny, watch it or die!

^you were mine once...i remember the days we spend with each other...talking,laughing, living like there was nothing to worry about in the worl...but now i look back and your not there by my side. i feel empty and lost...i see you with her and you dont even realize how much it hurts...you act like nothing is wrong. so i just smile and go along with the flow. but i wonder why back then you could always tell what was wrong but now you dont even ask me whats wrong...^i got bored so i wrote down something...not sure what it means exactly but i felt like writting and thats all i could think of..interesting yess i know...well im out peace..

amber

that was me being on the internet in chemistry cause i dont care about the mass of air in the classroom lol so yeah i had fun being a rebel

that has been so true for me these past couple days..

God has really shown up in my life and has seemed to be in everything from a friends words to the sunset.

i dont want to whine, but my Junior year thus far is incredibly packed with responsibility, and tooons of homework..so if you think about me ..pray!

i think this year is going to be really good but its going to be hard!

i love all of you so much and im praying for you!
-kels

so i was told today that you can get on phusebox at school...isn't that awesome??? Well I thought it was... and I will be 16 in 7 hours and 46 minutes!!!

boo...

plain day. nothing happened that's special. i don't think. so i have nothing to write.

blah.

i love you's: Kasey Brooker; Katie Kimbell; Kelsey Stroop, Shearron, Johnson, and Floyd; Britny Bryant; Hayley Cantrel; Abby Donnell; Jamie (abby's freshman); Sarah Walls, Gilbert, and Vermillion; Chelsey Warwick; Lauren Clap; Regina Whitehouse; Oday Manosin; Asia; Nana; Addie Baker; Carly Greenwell; Alan Whitley; Amanda Smallwood (Blender); Brett Tenpenny; Emily Pritchard; Liz Joines; Chris Lemyng; Linzy Thompson; Kaitlin Beck; Kyle Hayes; Libby; MariBeth Taglio; Mellie Riddle; Jane Woodard; Milly Hall; Meyekul Mulane; Michael Nobile; Ina Marshall; Niles; Noel Jones; Paige High; Rachel Edwards; Robert Jones; Shoe --no particular order

So last night, all my friends in the Boro were hanging out. It was nice. I called Lacy and then the phone got passed around to all my friends. It was nice to hear all their voices.

Home is where your heart is. And lately I have been extremely homesick. I don't know that it is for a certain place...Clinton, Murfreesboro, or New York. I miss all my friends and family. The people who I have grown so close to over the years or even as short of time as a week.

Thank you to the people who hold such a huge place in my heart. Even though I am not with you, know I love you all very much and miss you.

And if you feel like it, you can always come to New York. I mean there's always room for more Southerners.

well I shelled out more money today, than I have all summer. However, I've been asking around and I think I'm getting off easy, of course I still have to buy another history book, and that so called, Required Summer Reading Book.

I looked at the Econ book and it's pretty basic, so far. English is same old same from the glance I took.


I was the first person to buy books today at BRBS. I'm either a genius or geek. I'm leaning toward the latter.

Taylor (my roomie) and I had The History of Western Art at 8am today...we were the only two seniors in said class...bunch of pimply-faced, scared freshman surrounding us. We get a drop grade in there, and the tests are multiple choice...I had forgotten what it was like to not be taking junior/senior level courses.
His 377 and 392 will be tolerable...lots of essays and papers, but what else is new?
Tomorrow I have Dev. Psych. with Shawn B, so we'll cut up in there...other than that, Tuesday is a lazy day.
Right now gonna take a short nap, and then go run some errands...woe is me.
Special shout out to Laura, who is the only person I know on here, and who is a super-suave Rook partner. See ya Tuesday!

ha im in chem

You know something I just realized... I want to be IN LOVE with God... I know sounds so dang cleche... but i do. YOu know when you are interested in someone how every thought every emotion every piece of energy is consumed by that person. YOu always wonder what they are thinking, how they are feelings, what drives them, all of it... well i want that with God.

When did that stop or was it ever really there... I want to be excited by God, driven to please him, that "I can't sit still, can't breath, can't think about anything but who He is and what he wants"... I want to serve him and his people with a passion I can't imagine... I want to remember the excitement of seeing people get Him, of people desiring his promises... I want to be reminded why I am here... I just need to know how to get from here... to there... one small step at a time huh...

Ezekial 16:
15"But you thought you could get along without me, so you trusted instead in your fame and beauty. You gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came along. Your beauty was theirs for the asking! 16You used the lovely things I gave you to make shrines for idols, where you carried out your acts of prostitution. Unbelievable! How could such a thing ever happen? 17You took the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I had given you and made statues of men and worshiped them, which is adultery against me. 18You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you to cover your idols. Then you used my oil and incense to worship them. 19Imagine it! You set before them as a lovely sacrifice the fine flour and oil and honey I had given you, says the Sovereign LORD.

My first day back at Lipscomb has been great. I am taking intro to communications at 8:00. I am really looking foward to that class. It turns out my teacher is really cool. He has a speach inpedament that he encountered just three years ago. You can really tell that God is using him to touch the sudents he has. It was cool because despite his disability he is still giving his all to what he does and loves. It is encouraging to me to see how much passion and joy he has for his work. He had a power point video telling about himself and it was cool because it was very personal. He was talking about how he beleives that God has put us in his path for a reason. I am excited to see what God has in store for me in this class. I can already tell God is moving in that class. My second class was Greek! YUP! Greek! It is such a hard class already. lol I was absolutly no good at spanish in high school so I am not sure how well I am going to do in this class. Im gonna give it my all though. It will be my hardest class this semester. I am about to go to my art appreciation class at 1:00 so we will see how that goes.----- All that said, I am really excited about this year. I can really feel God moving and working in my life and through me. Even though I am not worthy He is faithfull! I am excited that a lot of people from this past MTCS class are here too. I KNOW that God has a plan for me being here. I know that and it excites me so so so much!!! I can tell that God is moving and that gives me comfort and joy.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and you minds in Jesus Christ. Philippians 4:4-7

We're here. Moved everything in, hung out with some new people, haven't done anything productive since we've been here.

I love college.

I miss home but I love it here. :-)

$507 for books..and 2 of them were used. I wondered where my free textbook agreement form was..

11 days till that national championship run. Oh yeah.

It feels like this is my own apartment..which is tight. Basically no rules..I love college. :-D

peace.out

What have I learned the past 8 months since being on staff at BABC? What has God been showing me since I've been a Youth Assistant for Chris? Ministry is not resigned for designated nights throughout the week. There were times not too long ago that I treated my walk with Christ as if I was working at a factory. I would clock in my time card on Wednesday nights and clock out as soon as the message was over. I would have three days off until Sunday so I would make like a car out of gas and coast on into Sunday. Going through worship running on fumes. All the while I was a car that needed major engine work. Engine in this case equals HEART. I had a ravaging cancer in my heart that was destroying me. The caner of SELF. Selfishness is to the heart as the Road Runner is to Coyotee. Cue song: "It's not about YOU..." It's NOT about US!!! Calling all know it alls, spoilled rotten punks, comfortable Christians, the harsh speaking, the oblivious, the unaware, the brats, the image consumed, the person that is destraught that they aren't in a relationship, the person that won't let go of past hurts and pains and everyone else (including myself)...It's NOT about US!...YOU...ME...
Then who is it about? J-E-S-U-S. Serving Him 24/7. Loving Him above all else, wanting to please Him more than anyone else (anyone includes YOURSELF), and counting people better than youself. I hate to be cliche but I will anyway...I need to examine my heart everyday. You need to examine your heart everyday. Can we get a MOTIVE CHECK?

Ministry is 24/7. There is no clocking out for the true lover of Jesus Christ. Pray for me because there are times when I want to clock out. Pray against the "ME CANCER" that desolates my heart. Ministry is 24/7. Our Christian friends need us to help them find the way, they need us to be prayer warriors for them and they need to see us putting our faith into action. Our Christian brothers and sisters and the ones' still in darkness need to see us passionate about the King we serve.

Ministry is 24/7. Have you clocked out?

You surprise me
Sometimes life slows down
Then spins out of control
I try to get my barings
Try to find you in the mess
I run after my own tail
Then sit very still
Sometimes with no relief
But then you when I think I’m done
You surprise me
Your touch
Gentle and kind
You smile my way
Letting me know you never left my side
You were there the whole time
I needed only to open my eyes
Your breath on me
Smells so sweet
Your eyes reveal a love so intense
SO pure
Devoted
How could I have ever not seen it
Not felt it
A truth never gone
You pursue me
Even when my blindness overwhelms
Oh how sweet you are
Your love so intense
So pure
So Devoted
May I never forget
Just who you are
And what you’ll do to find my love

So I've got my Bob the Builder backpack and my Dora the Explorer lunchbox. Everything seems to be in order for my first day of "big school."

At this point any other semester, I would be really stressed out. Not for any real reason, but simply because the first day of school is exemplary of something new and unknown; this guy has never done that very well.

But today--and this year--is so very different.

I knew New York did something to me; but I haven't had any idea what. I came home and felt nothing. I hoped it was just incubating.

Coming back to Oxford--a town that holds the whole gamut of feeling and emotion and memory for me--I discovered that nothing, absolutely nothing, felt right. I came back to a town that I felt was from a different life. The things I used to do, the people I used to hang out with, the places I used to go: they all seemed strangely distant.

For a week I have been contemplating why that is. Can three months change someone that much that he or she non longer feels comfortable in his or her skin?

Yes.

This year will not be another year in which I learn because I constantly screw up. I will approach God. I want to learn through His loving kindness. I don't feel comfortable worshipping in an all-white, uniform socio-political environment. I don't want to wear a tie and feel like there should be more. I want to sing and clap and dance and come before my God who exists in Truth and not merely in practice. I want more from God, which means I want more FOR God. I don't want to stand with brothers and sisters and worship and not take that worship out of the doors into every aspect of everything.

New York helped make me dissatisfied. And I couldn't be more thankful. Things are feeling reborn and new. Everyday is a miracle.


He Woke Me Up Again

He was, he was in the churchyard.
My father was in the first part.
He came, he came to my bedroom
but I was asleep.
And he woke me up again to say:

Halle Halle Hallelujah
Holy Holy is the sound.

And I hope, I hope you are tired out.
And I know, I know there is joy endowed.
But I was asleep,
And he woke me up again,
And he woke me up again to say...

Hold on, hold on to your old ways
Or put off, put off every old face.
And I know, I know you are changed out.
And I hope, I hope you're arranged out.
But I'm still asleep
And you woke me up again.
And I'm still asleep .
But you woke me up to leave.

-Sufjan Stevens

ugh...monday
ugh...strange co-workers

So, I quit my job this morning! Its kind of a relief. Anyway, I put in a request to go part time to allow me to go back to school to work on my english degree. However, they told me Friday afternoon that it was work full time or no time at all. So, I took that home and to God over the weekend. And, now this is what we came up with. So, I am very excited to be doing what I feel God leading me to do. Now, the part that has always proven most difficult for me: waiting and trusting in His provision! Yeah, thats a tough one for me. But, I'm excited about the possiblities and the idea of knowing that I don't have to worry about it, its all taken care of. Its all going to be okay. Anyway, so, I gotta go get myself ready for my first class: Intensive Elementary Spanish! YIKES!!! Sounds like fun, huh?

Ok, I'm out! I love you guys and I miss you so much. I can't wait to come back to New York! Maybe it won't be too long!

I'm so tired. Just stretched out like taffy. But...
I got tons of good music this weekend.

Beatles: Sargant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Killers: Hot Fuss

Everclear: Sparkle and Fade

Finding Steve Cunningham

Opinion: The Lies It Brings

The concert at the Cherry Tree was incredible. I met a bunch of awsome people, and heard some good music. Good Times indeed.

Edit*
I know, You've heard it all before. But I just got one of the biggest headaches of my life. If I ever get in a relationship that you know will crash in firey flames, kill me.

So, I'm sittitng here at the computer, trying to stay awake as long as I can - which, if any of you know me very well, you know that I'm a morning person, NOT a night owl. Well, then - you might ask - "why are you trying to stay up so late??" Well - I start my first string of night shifts (tthat is 7pm to 7am) for my new job. I've only worked two night shifts in my life and I'm not a fan. I'm terrible at trying to stay awake at night - so I'm trying to stay awake as long as possible tonight so that I can sleep most of hte day tomorrow. Hopefully by then I will be ready to work all night long. So after three nights of that I have EIGHT days off!! That, my friends, is the best things about working 3 days (or nights) a week. And so since I have 8 days off, I'm flying home for a few days to see my family and get some of the wedding stuff squared away!!! My mom has been doing alot of it since I moved - which has been a lifesaver!! Aren't moms the greatest!

SO just an update on how Josh and I are - we are doing good. We both had the weekend off so we decided to go hiking yesterday. But it was quite HOT and miserable out. We went with another couple that we know and we had alot of fun. Josh and Nate got off the trail (of course, boys do that, right!) and told us they would meet back up with us. So Megan and I kept hiking and occasionally we would yell at them and follow their voices to where we thought htey were coming from. Well, we thought we were getting farther away, but they kept telling us to follow the trail. So we kept going. Well after a while we felt something fall from a tree and Megan was like, "what in the world", but we were in the woods, so we just kept walking, then it happened again, and again and it was fishing bobbers - or whatever you call them!:) and next hting we know, we hear laughing. We look up and there are Nate annd Josh up in the top of this HUGE tall pine tree!!! It was quite funny however watching them try to get down. Funny - and scary - when it comes to stuff like that, I'm such a mom - I kept telling them to be careful. So that was the fun for that day.

Oh, but before that - we had our first real purhase as a couple!! We are the proud owners of a washer and dryer! So you know you're getting old when you get excited about a washer and dryer - but you just can't imagine the difference it makes to have one in your apartment!!! Just wait, your time will come when you will understand. Lets just hope that the next thing we buy is something fun tthough (Josh wants to get kyakks???)

Mr. Carroll (or Coach Carroll as he preferrs to be called) has startedd his job and is enjoying it - he finally has students at the end of this week. He had open house tonight. I went up to his classroom one day last week to help him get it ready for students - he had a lot of work to do!!! I think he's made progress though! Josh also starts seminary this week. We are really excited about it and I know that God is going to challenge us a great deal, as he already has begun to do here in our lives. Please continue to pray for us as we decide on joining a church. It is probably one of the most important decisions we can make right now and we just want tot be where God wants us.

So I hope you are all doing well. Email us anytime and let us know how you are doing! God bless

Stephanie

finally finished my days of duty at the internet commo center, which just a fancy name for the internete cafe thing. absolutely crazy amounts of people. i feel bad cutting people off after a few minutes since communication w/ their family is minimal. i really lucked out getting in on the internet deal i did. kind of pricy but definitely worth it. the internet lines are insane. the shifts were 12 hours but it flies by since it's so busy. i went on a reading spree in the spare time i had. i read everything i could get my hands on in the room. i finished The Five People You Meet in Heaven, a book i found in a box, an issue of US News cover to cover, also an issue of Time i found, and two week old newspapers. i even read all the papers that people had printed out and left sitting there. I think maybe it was because I thoroughly enjoyed The Five... and I wanted more but there just wasn't anything on hand that would suffice. i'm weird about the way i read books. i'll either sacrifice all the time i have that day to read it entirely through, or i'll read a chapter or so and never pick it up again. i think it's all in whether the beginning captivates me or not. most books have a slower part but the intro needs to be enticing. you gotta sell your product! anyway, enough rambling about books. i hope all of u had a great day. i know schools starting for alot of people right now and i so wish i could join you but that's life. that's all i can think to say. um... take care.