Hard to believe I just completed a 4 day weekend - of course, being sick really knocked the wind out of my sails ... and pretty much put a damper on things.  I guess that overall, I accomplished much of what I wanted to do (visit Chely's counsellor, see Thasya's play, take the family to 4 Seasons for Sunday brunch) ..... but I just feel empty and listless today.

Decy and the girls went to get measured for their dresses on Sunday afternoon .... so, all four outfits for the Opera are underway.  I am supposed to go back to the tailor for a fitting on my tux this Thursday or Friday.

Other than the above, really not much to blog on.  Worked on income taxes over the weekend, but still have a bit more to do.

Started some preliminary vacation planning for our June trip back to the US.  We will be very time constrained to achieve all we want/need to do in the US .... but we will start piecing things together.  The first job is to anchor the start-end flights.  Decy will doublecheck with the school to see if the girls can fly on Friday 8-June (their last day of school) or if we have to wait until Saturday the 9th .... we really want to get out of here on the 8th if we can.  Once that is known, I will contact United Airlines and see what I can book ... maybe I will get lucky and can use some frequent flyer miles ... one never knows.

Well, I think I will close and will try to work on stuff .... its "already" 429am .... hah ... don't feel like working ... but don't feel like blogging either ....

ok.... here is what's going on lately... go our report cards last week on wednesday... that same day i got hurt AGAIN.... i pull my alc(?? i think that it)... it's the thing behind your knee.... i streched it again ><...so i havent done much... yesterday kaylah came over we watch man of the year...that is a good movie.. i think you guys should watch it. we talk about three hours...which was real good cuz i havent hung out with her in like a month....yep and i have a new nickname meeegan.... yeah dont ask how that started.... lol... yeah there isnt much going on in my life but hang out waiting for my knee to get better... and i have to start my reach paper over a job that i want.... yeah what fun.... but that's all i have to say

-meegan

I am sick of my own face, voice, manner of doing things. Does anyone else get sick of themself? Really, I see mysef every day. I hear my voice every day. Ugh... I am so boring!

Okay, this kid that I absolutely love to supreme death just
left a comment on a picture on my MySpace. It’s the one that everyone seems to
love, all the curly haired-ness and stuff… it totally made my life…

You only smile in person, yet you only dress nice in photos, well ain't
that somthing to facinate the simplest of creatures I do venture in to
saying that I am. Hmm, you MUST need a translation, or else you'd be a
incredibly diffucult to understand, complicated, odd, all around
what-the-heckish, organism of the same speices as I...Well to bad, you
arn't getting one! "Mwahahahahaha...HA!" Says Bonbeenie at somthing
with no point in laughing at...Heh, I leave long comments, no?

I love this kid.

That's my Con-man Bonbeenie!

i went out to eat with my cousin cindy tonight. it was pretty fun. while i was waiting for her about 5 nuns walked in there in a straight line... and that was most definitely funny. but i think nuns are kinda funny anyway. as we were eating one walked by and it was windy and it looked like she was flying away. it was hilarious! and there was this old lady that offered my cousin her bacon... that was... odd.



we always seem to try on hats at cracker barrel




we got pop rocks


and apparently my lil sweet gramma watches a lot of reality shows. and cindy calls her to remind her to watch them on the night they come on. and she called her on tuesday to remind her about american idol and this is what happened:

cindy: "american idol is about to come on"
gramma: "good, because i have been watching this anna nicole stuff all day"
cindy: "well taylor (cindy's husband) says he's that baby's daddy!"
gramma:"well he better get down that quick! they are doing dna testing tomorrow!"

hahahahaha my lil sweet gramma is too funny! there is no other gramma that would say that. only mine. ah that is so cute. i love my gramma!

well, nathan and i want some cookies. so we are going to go get some! yesssssss! i hope everyone has a great night!

So...I didn't die (however, my computer did.)  Life has taken many interesting turns since the last post :)


I moved back to Alabama to finish my last year of school.  I
successfully completed one semester and hoping to finish strong this
semester.  My sister got engaged in october.  Dan proposed to me on
December 1, 2006.  Sister got married on december 30.  I'm getting
married on April 21, 2007.  By the way, that's 48 days from now :) 




I'm currently working at the resource center for pastoral excellence,
providing assistance and resources to all ministers and churches that
ask.  I'm also interning at Journey-Birmingham.  It's still in the
developing phase, but we're working towards an experimental holistic
worship experience that starts on April 15 and will last for 6 weeks. 


Providing that I finish the internship, turn in my papers, and come
back to classes after my honeymoon, I should graduate on May 26.


Oh, and we have a house in Piscataway, NJ, except I don't get to live there until June.

You guys are so much fun I love geeks...unless you don't like being called a geek..so please don't like trojan my computer or anything. My cousin likes being called a geek, I hope to learn many things from him.  

Yes, lassies and dudes. I am now beyond officially 17!! I’m
not celebrating for real just yet… I’m waiting for the 28^th…

 

Because that’s when I’m going to see Evanescence at the
GEC!!!

Spring Break is here at last! I am going to Clearwater Beach, Florida for a week. See you when I get back!

I don't understand sometimes how and why people change. It's as if all of my friends from high school are changing into people that I don't even recognize anymore. I'm finding out  who they are becoming now that they think they are "adults" and the decisions they are making because they think they are so wise because they are in college. I'm a little down today because I feel like I'm losing friendships just because I refuse not to change into the people that they are.

I just don't get it.

so, i really dont want to brag buuuut....

I HAVE THE HIGHEST AVERAGE IN MY MATH CLASS!!!

ok, i just had to get that out. i mean, y'all really dont understand...i am awful at math! really, i am! but, today, i am excited!

love to you all!

_rebekah

010101110110010101101100011011000010000001110100011011110110010001100001011110010010000001101001011100110010000001100111011011110110100101101110011001110010000001110100011011110010000001100010011001010010000001100001001000000110011001110101011011100010000001100100011000010111100100100001001000000100100100100000011000010110110100100000011001110110111101101001011011100110011100100000011101000110111100100000011001110110111100100000011101000110111100100000011011010111100100100000011001100110000101110110001011100010000001100011011011110110011001100110011001010110010100100000011100000110110001100001011000110110010100100000010010000100111101010101010100110100010100100000010000100100110001000101010011100100010000100001001000000101010001101000011001010110111000100000011010100111010101110011011101000010000001110111011000010110110001101011001000000110000101110010011011110111010101101110011001000010000001100100011011110111011101101110001000000111010001101111011101110110111000101110

Only a few of you know what this says and or where to find out.

What am I to do with these?
Is there a way to leave them behind?
They are given to me without my input, without my consultation.
When pondered upon they tend to block everything else out.
When considered they tend to override every sensory.
Only those who have some that are similar can comprehend them.
Though some are without a grasp of understanding.
I would gladly give them away, but who would take them?
Even if someone would take them is it possible for me to be rid of them?
No, they are something to frequent me throughout my age.
Something to keep me company, but evoking feelings of utter loneliness.

Ahhh...so many bands, so little time...

Based on the time of this blog you and probably surmise that I slept in ... yep !!

Had a busy day Thursday between school meeting, tux tailor measurements and working on finances and taxes.  Have much the same today as we will go to Thasya's play this evening.

Our "tummy issue" has been growing, but I am hopeful we are on the mend.  After another one of us got sick we finally had enough information to get to the root cause.  I had originally thought it was because of sate Decy bought from the street - but when I got sick - that theory went out window (b'coz I didn't eat any).  Then Nunung got sick .... so what was the common denominator .... well it is a vegetable salad made of papaya leaves, green beans, and coconut.  The dish was not properly prepared ..... some of the salad was still in the frig ... the staff didn't want to throw it away ... but Decy insisted ... as it is "not wasting" food if the stuff is making everybody sick. Thankfully, Chely never ate any and Thasya only had a very small portion.

Need to take care of some things and work on taxes.

>>> Oh, BTW, RE who was right (CNN weatherman or the local religious advisors) ... it rained everyday (nearly 2 weeks) since the "contest".  However, it is now March and the rainy season should end soon.

ciao ciao 

im going to memphis tomorrow:).

i get to see my favorite lumberjack and leeland.


A thousand times I've failed
Still Your mercy remains And should I stumble again
I'm caught in Your grace
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing You praise
Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul
Lord I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring You praise
From the inside out
Lord my soul cries out

Two days in a row!  Woohoo

Link

i feel so sick. i hardly ever get sick. this stinks

piece

hey yall,

 Wow... it has been forever since I have been on this thing. I have gotten caught up with school and tryign to pass so that I can transfer to cumberland with my friend james who is moving from oregon out here in august. I cant wait! He is just the best friend that i could ever ask for. Well, i am gonna go do the family thing tonight!

i learn through teaching.
i fully grasp information that i can explain, and sometimes only grasp it through explaining it.
i'm happier in sharing what i know.
i forget what i don't share

hmm.... i think i'm going to have to think on that a while

mary minnie elizabeth tyson luvs yall!!!!!!!!!!!

i've never understood how someone can mix up the gas and brake pedals or hit a house...  *deep in thought*  ... still don't.

Monday night I realized just how dry and stale my spirtual life has been lately. Even during One Weekend as I lead I could sense that there was something missing there that I wasn't completely getting. I haven't been focused on God lately. I had a busy week, and that was my excuse for not spending time in His Word.

Justifying my actions doesn't make them right.

I wasn't focused on God as I should have been, and that was wrong. I'm not going to lie and say I have it all together tonight either. But I'm walking towards the right direction once again.

I really have trivialized the power and importance of prayer. How could I possibly dismiss prayer after the exprience I had the summer after my sophomore year of high school, when I felt so compelled to pray for a boy I did not know and yet I could feel spiritual warfare waging over his soul one night at church camp?

Monday night I came to God half-heartedly... please bless the trip I'm about to go on... blah blah blah... but then I felt a little prick. And it increased throughout the night. First I was convicted about witnessing in my everyday life, and then I was convicted of my lack of zeal as I heard passionate praises around me from others. Where had I gone wrong? Why wasn't I feeling this way?

I had simply taken my eyes off Him.

My latest video project, which I did with John (Dunahoo) and Jolene, is due tomorrow. Just yesterday I was stressed over it. And even though I actually haven't seen the final result, I feel a peace about it, that it's alright and that we have is going to work out, even though we had to cut it up for length and such.

I have another video project coming up right after Spring Break. It's a studio project and I feel anything but prepared, but I know God will get me through it.

Last night I met with a few friends, and we were all able to open up to one another in a way that I know was ordained by God. It was incredible. If we all actually shared with one another and prayed for one another on a regular basis... wow... our lives would be changed... it's incredible to fellowship with believers on that level.

New York is around the corner. I'm not prepared. I'm not ready. But I love God and I love that city, so I will keep my focus on Him and I know that He will guide me through it all.

I've known all the answers for a while now. I can talk predestination, purity, and Paul with you all day long... but I need to get back to the basics in a sense... I just need to get back to loving God. Period. Everything else will flow out of that, and thank goodness it does. I've tried doing things in my own strength for a while, and it doesn't work. But God's always got a handle on it. Thank goodness for that!

i am just not looking forward to a gloomy thursday...with no new episode of grey's anatomy...

I had a God talk with my Dad tonight when I got in from church.

I can't tell you how happy I am right now. It means so much!

stop putting me on this stupid emotional roller coaster!

yes, you!

i havent even talked to u for how many weeks now? and ur still messing with me head. i dont need to see u or hear you....and ur still in my head.

your stupid song came on in sewing yesterday. and again today.

stupid john mayer.

stupid geography.

stupid boy.

u cant really mean just all of what uv said. u seem to be doing just fine, w/ or w/o your little summer infatuation.

no shortage of arm candy for you.

maybe thats not how u see it, but thats how it feels over here.

a returned call or txt once in a while would help.

make that

sent: comment, text, comment, text, phone call

[over a few weeks total]

received: nada

i give up!

Non-Christians, or heck... non-scholars of the Bible... shouldn't argue with me about the Bible.

"Christian Materialism" ... Right. You, sir, spent almost 2 hours giving a presentation on why Dualism must be wrong, and that the Bible doesn't support (or commit itself) to Dualism. Interesting, but hoo-hah, check your sources more in depth. Namely Mathew 10:28, John 4:24, 1 Corinthians 15:42-50, Acts 1:7-8, Luke 23:43, etc.

God's timing is perfect -- I taught about the Resurrection two Sundays ago. I prayed about what God wanted me to teach, and I wouldn't have been as prepared tonight with all those verses had I taught on something else.

Life has been amazingly busy lately, but not without a measure of fun. Here's the story.
So I've been loaded down with homework, and fighting to get it done
and when I look ahead I realize the work has just begun
I took a test in math today, my head almost a-splode
but it didn't quite get that way for I've been able to unload
You see my v-day stank, I had study, I had school
But I thought of something clever, I thought of something cool

ok... enough rhyming. :-)
I planned an awesome weekend, and luckily I didn't have much homework this past weekend so I wasn't crazy stressed to do it. For v-day (even though it wasn't on the day) I took Courtney to Gatlinburg for the day. We left at 7am and got back at about 1:30am. We went to the Mirror Maze, the aquarium (which was REALLY exciting for her because she loves that stuff [she's a bio major and aquatic animals are her favorite. She was identifying parts and stuff all day... she was really happy]), and walked around looking at shops and stores for the afternoon. That night was the big treat. We went to the Dixie Stampede dinner theater. It was way cool, and I should have some pics up soon.
Then Monday me and Adam had the pretty amazing idea of going skiing. So we left at 7am and got back at about 2:30am. We got to ski from 12:30-10 with a hour and a half break. It was really cheap too.
So yea, it was amazing, but don't think I've been slacking and living the good life. Those 2 days come after several weeks of constant study, homework and stress. Sometimes we need a day or two. It prevents mental breakdown. But now that this week is in full swing I'm right back into my studies with the test I took today, project I turned in to day, paper due tomorrow, and large paper due Tuesday (plus whatever is assigned tomorrow)

I don't think I've posted about this so here's something new:
I've been going to the chiropractor lately. Several years ago a friend of mine picked me up from behind and squeezed really hard. I felt something in my back pop and it has had a catch in it ever since. Well, at the start of this semster-ish I noticed it becoming much much more painful. So I made and appointment to get the x-rays necessary to have chiropractic work done. The x-rays show that I have "separated rib heads" meaning that where your ribs and spine (I think it's the spine, but I know it's at least close to the spine) meet in the back several of them had come severely out of alignment, almost like a dislocation. Because they had been like this for a long time my spine had also slightly started to twist. It was just now really starting to cause me pain though. So I've been going nearly every day for a few weeks now and my back feels WAY better. Tomorrow he's taking more x-rays to see if we still need to align them more or if they've gone into place.


Well that's life. I'm going to go back to writing my paper now.
--oh, dad(bill). If I get done at a 1/2 decent hour I'm planning on doing those receipts tonight.

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

                ----1 John 4:4

so. life is interesting lately. friendships are very strange, and i no longer advise a girl being best friends with a guy. things get weird. you know that things are different when you're riding in a minivan with him to Kroger to pick up a prescription. i swear, it's like i'm married to this guy. it's quite silly to decide you will never date a guy, but then hate it if he likes/dates/thinks about dating someone else...being a girl makes you silly, apparently. also, being exactly like his ex (whom he had a not-so-pleasant breakup with) is quite unsettling. like, it really weirded me out last night. and here's another tip...don't ever go to Hastings with someone you like, because you just might leave the place not liking them at all. that's happened to me twice. i don't know what it is. and here's another question for ya'll: Why do i end up getting emotionally attached to people that i shouldn't? Why can't i find a good, Christian best friend? I had one for 3 years, and then he had to go off and die, so that sucked a lot. not to be totally depressing or anything. it's just very weird. i always end up with a person who influences me negatively. is that because of a spiritual deficiency on my part? Am i just a silly girl who needs to stop worrying? What worries me most is this: is this what my future relationships are gonna be like? But in that sane vein, i really do trust God. i guess i just get caught up in me sometimes, and that is definitely not a good thing to get caught up in. I've noticed a trend of selfishness and superficiality in my life lately. i think that i definitely need to stop constantly talking to william and start talking to Jesus. cause william can't solve my problems. he hasn't known me since before i was born. he didn't create my brain. he's human. and i love him, but he's human. and he brings out qualities in me that aren't Godly/good in the least. but at this point, the only thing that's gonna get me farther from him and closer to Him is a whole lotta prayin' and a whole lotta Word, cause i'm invested in this boy. i'm talkin', hardcore, seriously, unrequitedly invested. but then....there's this other boy. and he gives me a lot of hope. not in the sense of, were gonna get married and have 13 kids...he makes me want to be Godly. he spurs me on to a better relationship with Christ. instead of wanting/needing to constantly be around/talk to him, he makes me want to be around/talk to God. he has every right (by the world's standards) to be needy, emotionally disturbed, and sinful...but he's not...(well, we're all sinful, but you know what i mean...) and that makes me really happy. there are good ones out there. i wish he had some idea of what i think of him. maybe i'll tell him at some point. until then, i want to be content in my identity in Christ. that's definitely harder the older i get. my flesh really wants to take over. i get smart-aleck, mean, judgmental, negative, and just generally stupid sometimes. but i know that Christ in me is more powerful than Satan trying to get at me. i just pray that i will have the desire to stay close to Him so that He can fight for me, cause i know that i can't do it on my own. The only thing that i like about going through weird times and growing up is how much closer it can bring me to Christ. i just love it. anyways, i better go do my chem/english homework! much love to you all! ---Cari

Just a quickie to let you know we are ok - starting 4 day weekend, but with a bit of a hiccup ... seems there is something we ate that has caused some "tummy problems".  Decy ended up going to the hospital yesterday to get a shot, and a cocktail of 4 medicines - anti-inflammatory, anti-bacteria, pain reliever, and something else. Interestingly enough, I'm in much better shape than Decy and have not had to go to the Dr.

Thasya's play starts today ....

This morning we go to JIS to meet Chely's counsellor about college planning.  Afterwards we go to the tailor for the "1st measurements" on my tux.

Oh - supposedly the rest of the furniture and our dinnette chairs will be ready for delivery on Saturday - we shall see.

ciao ciao

Why do all the good things seem so far away? I know I shouldn't be wishing away the last few months of my senior year, but I can't help feeling like there's this huge expanse of nothing seperating me from the rest of my life.

I turn 18 in the beginning of April.  The state JCL convention, one of the few remaining high school events that is even worth thinking about, is in the end of April.  Prom is a week into May.  Graduation is a week later.

What's March?  March is useless.  March is ACI and more time for me to sit around spazzing out over my future.  I think I would worry about it less if it were just here.

At the same time, I know I'm not quite ready yet.  Emotionally, I'm bored and I'm ready to move on and do something new and exciting.  But I know that practically I am in no place to be itching for the starting pistol to send me off to college.  I don't have any money.  I don't know what I want to do.  I don't even know if I'm going to be able to stay as excited as I am till August.

*sigh*

Hi everyone!  Mommy and Daddy have decided to move my blog to a different site.  I'll keep coming here to let you know when I've blogged for a while, though.  I wrote a new blog today:

DiaryOfDaniel.Wordpress.com

So i got Braces today!
They aren't to bad.... i look weird now!!
But O well! Just thought i should tell you guys i got Braces!

Ok, a few years ago my parents were looking for important documents such as my birth certificate and such. Well, they thought that the documents were in the safety deposit box at the bank, but they weren't. They also thought they might be at home. They weren't. It was concluded that they had been thrown away and so we all had to go and get new birth certificates.

Well, my parents bought some CD's recently and put them in the bank. Yesterday my dad went to the bank to get one that was expiring soon. It wasn't there. So he calls my mom who insisted he go double check. It wasn't there, but ALL the missing stuff was. Yes, ALL of it. So my mom was thinking and concluded that there had to be TWO boxes that our key worked on.

Sure enough, they went this morning and found both boxes and now we're down to just one box. Needless to say, the bank apologized and we're going to have a year of free service in that department.

So, that's the most exciting thing to happen recently and it brings to a close a really big mystery. Although I think it's funny because I now have two copies of my birth certificate.

In other news, I am raising support to go to Sweden and South Korea on a missions trip this summer. If you know of anyone who could possibly support me, please let me know because I need to raise $6000 dollars...

P.S. - I get to go to Clearwater Beach, Florida for a week with CRU and my awesome fiance!

so i'm feeling pretty sick today for some reason. kinda sucks.

i'm thinking about growing my sideburns out again. just for spring break though. haha

piece

I joined phusebox because there's this girl that I like and I think I found her on here. I hope I can find her again.

As mentioned, I am taking Thursday and Friday off from work.  A long weekend is needed badly, especially after the last few days events at work - which I cannot talk about.  Time for a refreshing, some R&R, some catching up on "home work", etc.

Decy and I continue to sort through the options and issues associated with getting me a tuxedo.  The fundamental concern is that there is just a wide range of prices and qualities available ... and each is hand made; thus, there is a potential for making a mistake. Its not that I need the best quality tux - its just that (a) it must be on time, and (b) it must look neat and professional (not like something I found at the thrift store). I think we are getting there - Decy will probably buy the material today (bless her heart, this issue has been really tough on her).

The school play that Thasya is dancing in is called Flapper (a 1920's theme).  It begins on Thursday and there are two performances each night for 3 nights.  She's wearing down (especially after having to do a band performance last weekend) .... but the end is in sight.  I offered to take the family to Sunday brunch at 4 Seasons - and asked Thasya if she would have enough energy to go.  She quickly responded YES - and we joked that she might just spend all her time at the dessert area eating chocolate - he he he.

Well, I see the stock market took a gut wrenching 3-4% plunge yesterday.  Its not a surprise and long overdue .... you can't climb virtually non-stop for 9 months ... there has to be a pause and a set back / correction from time to time.  Depending on what the market does on Wednesday (US time) I might jump in and buy something "on sale".  The way you make money in the market is to do the opposite of the crowd - but remember, for every buyer there is a seller - and the other person thinks they are smarter than you.

As you can see, not much to write about .... been working on pulling some music together for the mini iPod Decy inherited from Thasya - I'm getting there.

Oh, we're having some handphone challenges right now.  First, when Decy fell last weekend at Hotel Mulia her handphone went flying.  There is no damage to the insides, but some damage to the casing - and it needs to be repaired. And, it appears that Thasya's phone (which was a gift from a friend) is pretty much dead - can't hold a charge and overheats.  So, we are thinking through the options ...

BTW, recall the company's "employee appreciation event" where Decy and I dressed up?  The company put together some photo albums (professionally done "books" where the pics are printed onto the cardboard pages).  Anyway, there are two different books ... and there are many pics of Decy and I throughout both - one is particularly funny as they caught her singing to me while we were dancing - you can tell by the look on her face and the position/shape of her mouth ... plus she is pointing a finger at me as if she is saying "I love you" ... he he he.

Well, time to close ... have some things I have to work on.

ciao ciao

spring is almost here.
yay!
that means it is time
for me to roll down my windows
turn up my music
and drive and drive and drive

that is the best

This is a paper i had to write the other day and i have nothing to do so i am putting it on here :P
Hope you like it

Wild Horses

Wild horses aren't just wild beasts, as most people call them. They aren't feed eating pigs, as some ranchers and farmers call them. They wouldn't hurt us if they weren't so afraid of us. We are trying to take the land which the wild horse has run on for many years. We think it is ours, the truth is, its theirs. They have ruled the wild west for many years, running free and living off the land.

Wild horses were the best thing that happened in the Indian times. Horses would run as they wished and come home for dinner. They trusted humans back then, but now they run for the hills when they get a glimpse of us. They know we have lost all respect for them. We don't see the beauty anymore, we look past the magnificent muscles, we can't look into their eyes because we know if we did, we would melt with sympathy and set them free. Wild horses were not made to be caught and put under saddle. They were made to run in the wild, and show us,
                        Life is what you make it

Some people want to put the wild horses under saddle and throw them in an arena full of people screaming and yelling. Some people want to sell them, for money, some think wild horses are only good for dog food.

Why put a beautiful wild horse in an arena were it will go crazy and people will think that is how all wild horses are, when in all actuality it's us who make them look bad. How could someone sell such a marvelous animal, and think it is good for nothing, and who in the world would sell such a fantastic animal to become dog food.

If we take away the wild horses freedom and put them under saddle, how are our children's children supposed to see the beautiful, untamed, magnificent, Wild Horses?

So this weekend was the WILD trip that I led. It went amazing..at least
in my opinion...give or take a little rain now and then j/k. But it got
me thinking about somethings. I mean I understand how important being a
leader is in every aspect of my life. I mean being a leader isn't just
about bossing people around, its about being an example in all of your
actions, no matter how innocent they may seem.

Now there are
many ways a person can be a leader, one for example is being an older
sibling. I happen to have plenty of experience in this area of life.
But I didn't stop to think about the impact that I have on my younger
siblings. I mean I hear the whole thing about "they just want to be
like you." Now, that I actually think about it, thats a pretty scary
responsibility. I mean to have (in my case) three young boys always
watching your every move to immulate you.

Another way a person
can be a leader is how they treat people. This can be a hard leader to
be. I mean I know I don't always treat people the way they should be
treated but I always try my best to do what I think is right...whether
other people agree with my decisions or not.

The single most
difficult leader is a spiritual leader. This is, in my opinion the
HARDEST leader to be. I mean instead of just younger siblings you have
the whole world watching your every move and waiting for you to mess
up. But, when you mess up, you have the weight of being a christian on
your shoulders. I mean not in a bad way, just the fact that everyone is
waiting for you to mess up just because your a christian. Now I'm not
saying that I'm perfect, because this is the area I struggle with on a
daily basis. I mean it's hard to be around people that don't believe
the same as you do and not fall into some of the patterns that they do.


I know that I'm not perfect, but I would give anything just to
make someone else's day a little brighter because I am who I am and no
one's going to change that...except GOD. And then I know it will only
be for the betterment of my life and actions, and the people around me.
Being a leader means being true to yourself. No matter who your around
or who your trying to impress.

So when it boils down to it, are you the kind of leader that you want to be seen as?

romanticism and pointless facts about the old testament....two things i really dislike right now.

1. Do you like strawberries?
Heck yes I do

2. What is your full name?
Jaime Hollis Rhiannon Crabtree

3. Who was your first kiss?
I haven't had mine yet

4. What grade are you in?
High School Junior

5. Have you seen the notebook over a million times?
Nope, and I'm okay with that

6. Are you always online?
Every single day

7. Do you have a myspace?
I have one, I just don't really use it

8. Did you ever see the sound of music?
Yep (The hills are ALLLIIIIVE)

9. Have you ever played the flute?
No, I tried to play the trumpet when I was about 6... that didn't work out well

10. Do you play basketball?
Yeah, I'm just out of practice

11. Are you a Phillies fan?
No not really

12. Is your favorite color orange?
That's like asking an anorexic if they like food

13. Do you know someone named Emily?
I know two *counts on fingers to make sure* Yeah, two

14. Are you straight?
Very, very, very straight

15. Do you like hip hop or rock better?
ROCK!

16. Do you enjoy eating ice cream?
Depends on my mood

17. Would you ever like to get plastic surgery? If so.. on what?
Nope

18. Do you have a xanga?
Somewhere around here I do

19. Do you have more than 3 screen names?
No, I do not

20. Do you believe in God?
He's proven himself too often for me not to

21. Is the letter M in your name?
In my first name

22. Did you ever watch?
Watch what?

24. What is your most overused phrase online?
OMG, LOL, or this guy O.o (He's so cute)

25. Have you ever smashed your head against a pole and/or wall?
And a desk, and a doorjamb, and a pillow, and several books of various thickness and size

26. Do you know who invented the refrigerator?
Someone that still lived in his mothers basement, I have no doubt

27. Is your favorite subject in school math?
Freak...

28. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?
Yes, and then the little forest nymphs come and set it back right...

29. Which comes first?
The idea for the chicken and then the eggs

30. Do you enjoy peanuts?
I'm alergic to peanuts

31. Have you ever been on a plane?
I hated every minute of it

32. Do you like Ashlee or Jessica better?
They both suck

33. Were you ever in a play?
Several times

34. Have you ever been camping?
Yeah, it was very wet

35. Have you ever used the phrase, "What's up homeslice?"
That's how I address my beloved Leslie

36. Do you have a crush on someone?
Yes

37. Are you in a relationship?
Friendships yes, dating no

38. Do you believe in love at first sight?
It worked for my parents...

39. Do you believe in fortune tellers?
I belive in lucky guesses

40. Do you like Hilary or Haylie Duff better?
They also both suck

41. Have you ever seen the entire Harry Potter series?
Yes I have, and I 've read the books

42. Can you recite lines from the Lord of the Rings?
 Oh gawsh, me and my uncle go at it like you wouldn't believe *The way is shut...*

43. Are you normally labeled as a goth, prep, punk, etc.?
I think I'm what happens when you throw a goth, punk, nerd, bicker, and rocker into a blender...

42. Do you have the ambition to become a doctor?
Nope, I have a odd gag reflex

43. Did you ever eat rice krispies?
After I drown them in sugar and milk

44. What time is it?
9:21 PM

45. What is today's date?
February 26, 2007

46. What is the name of your best friend?
Leslie Roller, Josh Goad, Jennifer Nicks, James Mason

47. When was the last time you took a shower?
Last night at about 6:45

48. Have you ever seen stand by me?
The name seems familiar

49. Are you a star wars fanatic?
Yes I am *Judge me by my size do you*

50. Are you a Celtics fan?
Despite my Celtic roots, no

51. Have you ever seen the movie Rent?
I LOVE that movie, I know most of the songs

52. Do you listen to music regularly?
I can't live without it

53. Do you have braces?
No

54. Did you ever have braces?
Yep

55. Do you eat breakfast daily?
No, I keep forgetting

56. Have you ever spent the entire day watching Animal Planet?
That and Lifetime

57. What kind of shirt do you have on presently?
It's burgundy-ish

58. Did you ever ride a horse and/or donkey before?
I'm allergic to horses

59. Do you believe in unicorns?
You betcha I do

60. Do you have AOL, Msn, Comcast, NetZero, or PeoplePC?
Comcast

61. Do you know a person named Kyle?
Three of them

62. Do you like someone?
I think so, yeah

63. Do you have a friend with benefits?
Ummmmmmmmm

64. How many boys do you have on your buddy list?
don't have a buddy list

65. Have you ever been dumped?
Once, and we weren't even going out. How pathetic was that?

66. How many times have you seen She's All That?
A few

67. Have you ever watched Bring It On?
Yeah, I have. I SAID BRRRR IT'S COLD IN HERE!

68. Do scary movies scare you?
I'm not fond of them, so I don't watch them

69. Is your favorite store spencers?
I hate Spencers. Hot Topic is like a thousand times better.

70. Do you have more than 100 people on your buddy list?
I'm not weird (Okay I am, I'm just not that weird)

71. What is your GPA?
Dunno

72. Do you know your IQ?
130-ish

73. Are you intelligent?
I think so, I have my moments


74. Do you think social studies / history is a waste of time?
They're my favorite classes. 

75. Have you ever participated in a spelling bee?
And I won

76. Do you have a pet?
3 dogs, a cat, 2 fish, and 2 birds

77. Have you ever been in a racecar?
I've been on one (I like to climb things)

78. Have you ever gotten down on your knees and barked like a dog?
Yeah, it wasn't the funnest thing to do. But I was bored, I do random things like that when I'm bored

79. Do you have a cell phone?
Now that I think of it, where is that thing? Somebody call it

80. Do you have a lot of friends?
I guess. I'm not popular, at least not to my awareness  

81. Have you been to another country before?
Does Jamestown count?

82. Have you been out of state before?
Yes, and I think I like Michigan best (other than here)

83. Do you like to doodle on your school books?
My notebooks are homage to my short attention span

84. Do you watch the discovery channel?
When I can

85. Do you hate someone?
There are people pushing the envelope, but not right now

86. Were you ever in the boy/girl scouts?
I was a Browine, which is a form of Girl Scouts

87. Do you have any siblings?
2 sisters and a brother

88. Have you ever been on a train?
No, not really no

89. Are you getting annoyed with this survey?
A little yeah...

90. What is your favorite kind of font?
Blackadder or Chiller

91. What is your favorite TV station?
Disney and Nickelodeon

92. What is your favorite radio station?
102.9 The Buzz

93. Do you like Frank Sinatra?
Check the name genius

94. Have you ever dialed 911 and then hung up?
I usually talk to the opperator before I do that

95. Did you ever have detention before?
Yes, I'm just that terrible of a person

96. Who is your favorite teacher?
My Contemporary Issues teacher, he's about as ADD as I am

97. Did you ever play volleyball?
I'm okay at it, but it's not my favorite

98. What is your personal quote?
Love me or leave me, just don't do both

99. Do you like oranges?
Oddly enough, only around Christmas

100. Who is your favorite singer/songwriter/artist?
Geez, that's like asking me to pick my favorite book. I can't choose...

... at least as far as going to work - received approval to take Thursday and Friday off.  Now, I just need to line out all the activities I need to do ... or, should I say, Decy needs to help me.

Sounds like the tailor work on my tux is going to be more expensive and more time consuming than I expected ... I'm having a hard time understanding that, given that this is Indonesia.  But, I have often found that "upper end" activities and items are very expensive relative to other prices.  The thing that concerns me the most is their completing the tux on time.  They claim it will take 4 weeks - which is fine if it is, in fact, when they complete the work.

If the tailor is like the furniture maker who made the dinette and entry way furniture then I won't see the tux until July .... for example on the dinette it was supposed to be delivered at end-November but was delivered 20-Dec ... then Decy returned the chairs for "touch up" and 7 of them have been gone for a month.  The same company is doing the entry way furniture - we ordered it in November and it was supposed to be delivered 1st week in January .... still no delivery to date ... supposedly because of the rain ... but that doesn't jive as it hasn't been raining non-stop since November !!

BTW, if any of you see the news on the "mud volcano" in Indonesia ... at is in Surabaya ... one of the places we visited during vacation.  We drove right by it.  A real tragedy.  Sad part is, most "knowledgeable" scientists, engineers, and geologists believe it was caused by the drilling (for gas/oil) activities.  But, somehow, the govt assembled some folks that have stated it was/is a natural disaster ... which then presumably takes the responsible company off the hook for paying damages .... now, folks are trying to lower concrete balls into the crater to slow the mud flow ... sounds to me like they are just going to "choke" the throat of the volcano which will either (a) cause an explosion, or (b) cause the mud to begin flowing from somewhere else.  To me, lowering concrete balls into a mud volcano is like trying to put a car on the railroad tracks in an attempt to stop a train.

Well, I better close this blog and get some other stuff done.

ciao ciao

WOOT WOOT!
Thank you O great Nathan!!!

Life makes me smile. God is so good. :0)

You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

—Psalm 16:11

I love you Lord.

Is a great show. You should watch it  =)

That is all

I cannot even begin to explain the busyness of my week and weekend, but it's been crazy. My schedule's been so hectic that I had to work less than 15 hours this week (I usually work 20). And it's not over yet! This week won't be as bad as next week, but I still have school stuff. On Saturday I will finally be able to chill out, only to wake up early the next morning to be at church by 4:30 to head off to New York.

Will life ever slow down again?

1. Do you like strawberries?
love them

2. What is your full name?
alicia katherine amirian

3. Who was your first kiss?
I haven’t had my first real kiss yet

4. What grade are you in?
college freshman

5. Have you seen the notebook over a million times?
definately

6. Are you always online?
almost everyday

7. Do you have a myspace?
what's a myspace? 

8. Did you ever see the sound of music?
the play

9. Have you ever played the flute?
no and I wouldn’t want to see me try

10. Do you play basketball?
I’ve never been good at sports

11. Are you a Phillies fan?
nope

12. Is your favorite color orange?
definitely not

13. Do you know someone named Emily?
yes…Emily o’berry!

14. Are you straight?
wouldn’t even wanna begin to think of myself as not

15. Do you like hip hop or rock better?
hip hop

16. Do you enjoy eating ice cream?
I would eat it everyday!

17. Would you ever like to get plastic surgery? If so.. on what?
no

18. Do you have a xanga?
oh man, that was forever ago!

19. Do you have more than 3 screen names?
nope, just one. 

20. Do you believe in God?
more than anything

21. Is the letter M in your name?
my last name

22. Did you ever watch?
huh?

24. What is your most overused phrase online?
I don’t know, I don’t talk on aim much anymore

25. Have you ever smashed your head against a pole and/or wall?
not on purpose

26. Do you know who invented the refrigerator?
a smart person

27. Is your favorite subject in school math?
yeah right

28. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?
umm, yeah

29. Which comes first?
the chicken.

30. Do you enjoy peanuts?
when they are honey roasted

31. Have you ever been on a plane?
yep for fine arts

32. Do you like Ashlee or Jessica better?
don’t ask me I don’t know

33. Were you ever in a play?
yes

34. Have you ever been camping?
if you count in cabins as camping then yes, like, 3 times I think

35. Have you ever used the phrase, "What's up homeslice?"
I’ve definitely never even heard that

36. Do you have a crush on someone?
well, I think some guys on tv are cute but I’ll never meet them

37. Are you in a relationship?
yes…friendships, friendships, friendships, and I LOVE JESUS!

38. Do you believe in love at first sight?
not yet

39. Do you believe in fortune tellers?
satanists

40. Do you like Hilary or Haylie Duff better?
neither.

41. Have you ever seen the entire Harry Potter series?
nope.

42. Can you recite lines from the Lord of the Rings?
no

43. Are you normally labeled as a goth, prep, punk, etc.?
don’t think so

42. Do you have the ambition to become a doctor?
nurse

43. Did you ever eat rice krispies?
yes, with lots of sugar

44. What time is it?
5:23pm

45. What is today's date?
February 20, 2007

46. What is the name of your best friend?
Jessica Harrell/Hannah Breaux

47. When was the last time you took a shower?
yesterday around 1:30

48. Have you ever seen stand by me?
no

49. Are you a star wars fanatic?
no, but i do like the movies.

50. Are you a Celtics fan?
no

51. Have you ever seen the movie Rent?
part of it

52. Do you listen to music regularly?
couldn't live without it.

53. Do you have braces?
no

54. Did you ever have braces?
no

55. Do you eat breakfast daily?
yes except for tues and thurs cause I have a class at 6:20

56. Have you ever spent the entire day watching Animal Planet?
no

57. What kind of shirt do you have on presently?
pinkish with a white lacey undershirt

58. Did you ever ride a horse and/or donkey before?
I used to ride horses

59. Do you believe in unicorns?
sorry, no

60. Do you have AOL, Msn, Comcast, NetZero, or PeoplePC?
comcast.

61. Do you know a person named Kyle?
yes I do

62. Do you like someone?
no but I kind of wish I did

63. Do you have a friend with benefits?
no

64. How many boys do you have on your buddy list?
I don’t know

65. Have you ever been dumped?
no

66. How many times have you seen She's All That?
I don’t think I’ve seen it

67. Have you ever watched Bring It On?
nope

68. Do scary movies scare you?
not really. I like them.

69. Is your favorite store spencers?
no, it’s charlotte russe, aeropostale, and pac sun

70. Do you have more than 100 people on your buddy list?

Sure don’t

71. What is your GPA?
3.1

72. Do you know your IQ?
nope

73. Are you intelligent?
in some things

74. Do you think social studies / history is a waste of time?
no because it’s a good time to take a nap, doodle, snack, or daydream. Then again I could be jumping on the trampoline during that time, so yes. 

75. Have you ever participated in a spelling bee?
not a real one

76. Do you have a pet?
yes, a dog, a cat, and 2 fish

77. Have you ever been in a racecar?
no

78. Have you ever gotten down on your knees and barked like a dog?
actually, yes…I’ve done it to entertain our dog Joli

79. Do you have a cell phone?
yes – it looks like a Barbie phone

80. Do you have a lot of friends?
I wouldn’t say a WHOLE lot but yeah I guess it’s a lot. They’re mainly from church  

81. Have you been to another country before?
nope

82. Have you been out of state before?
yeah like, the whole east side of the u.s.

83. Do you like to doodle on your school books?
mmhmm

84. Do you watch the discovery channel?
used to

85. Do you hate someone?
nope

86. Were you ever in the boy/girl scouts?
nope

87. Do you have any siblings?
a sister and a brother

88. Have you ever been on a train?
I’m getting sick of answering all these questions

89. Are you getting annoyed with this survey?
haha! It’s like you read my mind!

90. What is your favorite kind of font?
what’s the point of that question?!?

91. What is your favorite TV station?
abc family and Disney channel

92. What is your favorite radio station?
mainly 94.1 & 88.7

93. Do you like Frank Sinatra?
I very rarely listen to him but when I do I like him  

94. Have you ever dialed 911 and then hung up?
no

95. Did you ever have detention before?
no

96. Who is your favorite teacher?
right now mr woodlee my tumbling and trampoline and gymnastics coach

97. Did you ever play volleyball?
yes I really like it

98. What is your personal quote?
smile anyway

99. Do you like oranges?
yeah

100. Who is your favorite singer/songwriter/artist?
I don’t know, a lot, but I’m really glad I finally made it to the end of this survey!

Well, here we are bright and early on a Monday morning ... 430am.  I'm running a bit behind on starting my blog.  First, I set my alarm back 10 minutes to 320am ... then I exercised ... then I listened to Josh's song to determine if he was crazy or not.  Actually, I think he is a bit crazy ... anybody that thinks listening to one song for a 1/4 second squeal at the 11th second of the song ... and if you hear it "he's not crazy" but if you don't ... he is .... well anyway ... I just don't think that is a robust enough of a sanity tests ... which is why I think he is crazy.

About this week, I am going to try to take Thursday and Friday off.  Aside from needing a break and needing to work down some vacation .... Thasya has a play performance during the week (in the afternoon) ... and ... we are going to try to have a another meeting with Chely's counsellor about college ....

As for posting pics on Phusebox ... I just don't know what the problem is.  Could be my computer, but I think it is the link/access from here in Jakarta.  All I know is that when I needed to post the flooding pics and prayed a lot about the posting ... it worked ... other pics ... failed.

Didn't do a whole lot this weekend ... actually did, but didn't feel like I accomplished what I wanted.  We went out CJs Friday night - met a young couple (he's Irish, she's Indonesian) ... he needed somebody to talk to .... we made it home about 6am ... so that pretty much shot Saturday .... after getting up later in the day, I worked.

On Sunday, did some more work .... and did some exercising.  Then went to JIS (Jakarta International School) and listened to the bands play (Thasya's in the beginners, 1st yr, band - flute).  Came home, did some karaoke - Decy got a massage on her shoulders and arms (more about that later). Then we headed off to bed ... approx 10pm.

About Decy's shoulder - last Friday night (er Sat morning) while leaving CJs ... at the bottom of the stairs there was a wet spot on the marble floor.  Unfortunately, Decy's legs went flying and she came down pretty hard.  No serious damage/injury but still some bumps and bruises.  Sumi, one of our maid's, massaged Decy on Saturday and Sunday trying to work the kinks out.

Don't recall if I mentioned it or not, but at the Company party last week I won a 30 gig iPod.  Chely has a 60 gig ... and Thasya has Chely's old mini.  So, we gave Thasya the 30 gig ... and now Decy has inherited the mini ... of course ... it will be me that has to do the music transfers.  I still don't have an iPod (yeah, I know, I'm old school) ... but my stereo still blows away anything that is available today .... and as Chris knows ... hooking his music up to my stereo is an awesome combination.  Hot.

Speaking of hot ... last night while doing karaoke, somehow Decy and I scored a 99 on the Titantic theme song .... I think our machine is broke ...  and on that note ... I think I will close ... (no pun intended ... well, actually, there was a pun intended)

ciao ciao

I am so tired! Physically and Mentally. All that i had going on in my last Post is slow going away, not going away persay but i am getting used to what happend. But my life never slows down because now i have another probalem in the making. Life never seems to slow down!!
But on a happier note, Thursday-night was THE most fun i have had in a long time. I have never Laughed so hard.... ever!! It was FANTASTIC!
Well please keep me in your prayers still and hopfuly things will get better! Thanks for all the prayers so far.

Gracy

A lot of people are afraid to say what they want.
That's why they don't get what they want.


-- Madonna


I want to be Happy!

I DDR-ed and saw that it was good.

I believe that due to my profession
that Jesus is Lord, not just a teacher, a prophet, or religious man,
but Lord, of my life, and belief in my heart that God raised him from
the dead, totally conquering all of the enemy's power over me, based
on scripture's description of one who is truly saved found in Romans
10:9, that I am a saved, reborn, new creation in Jesus Christ, and
that “the old has gone, the new has come.” I love the Lord with
all my heart, mind, soul and strength, and I believe that based on
what my Lord himself said that “He who loves me will keep my
commandments,” that I should continually pursue to live in complete
compliance with his commandments. Furthermore, I firmly concede with
what the psalmist says in Psalm 119 in reference to this pursuit, for
I believe that if I “hide his word in my heart, I might not sin
against him.” Therefore, every day I do all I can to continually
seek his presence, word, instruction, and truth, for I believe that
as my Lord, he deserves nothing less.

SO, I'm trying to make the transition to phusebox, we'll see how it goes.

This past week was hard, the hardest I've done in a while. I had so many tests or assignments. Now I can breath because it's over with. In fact, I only have one test next week to worry about now before spring break on the lovely shores of Clearwater Beach, Florida. Now, that's exciting.

Thursday was a big day for me. See, Crusade had asked me write an article for Sidelines about the "Sexpert" coming to campus. I did that, and it's published, so go check it out. Jeff Patton came and spoke to us that night and did a great job. He's a great speaker and he actually keeps it real instead of sugar coating the sex talk. We need someone like that in our society, for real.

Then yesterday I had to go apply for a passport since I'm planning on going to Sweden this summer. I was very prepared and the process was smooth. Now it's Saturday and I'm about to head to a baseball game and then I'm on duty for the night. Gray and I are going to watch Marie Antoinette and Man of the Year. Not really exciting, but it is for us. We never have free time anymore.

Weddng planning wise... yes, I bought a dress and it's beautiful and my dream dress. I'm very excited! The wait for my wedding date has not been hard at all. It's like a prize for being good for a year in a way. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not super anxious. I feel very calm about it. granted, it is a year away, but already this semester is almost over with... In no time it will be here. I can't wait. :)

The Case of Illness is Solved February 20, 2007
Filed under: Other — becca @ 12:31 pm
So, after the wedding dress shopping adventure I found myself sick.

Very sick.

Sunday night Gray drove me to the hospital in Smyrna because my temperature had risen to 100.3 and it was still rising. After waiting forever, I was told I was not an emergency case and it would cost me $200 dollars minimum to be treated.

I left.

I went to Health Services on campus yesterday and the very nice doctor lady told me it sounded as if I had really bad allergies (duh) and that my congestion had led to a growth of bacteria (hence the fever) and so she gave me a prescription for a z-pack, nasonex, and told me to continue my allergy medicine. So I took Monday off from school and I’m taking today off as well. I’m going to try and get some work done later tonight though. I’m kind of nervous about school, but I’m letting God handle everything, because I can’t. I am also worried because scholarships are due tomorrow and I’m sick… So I don’t think they’re going to happen. sigh. We’ll see.

So that’s how I’ve been. I am so definitely counting down the days until spring break… 10 more to go!!!


1Comment

Wedding dress shopping February 17, 2007
Filed under: Other, School, Wedding — becca @ 8:05 pm
Well, my first experience shopping for a wedding dress was short and interesting. It is also my last experience because I bought my wedding dress. Here’s how it all went out.

I woke up this morning at 8:30 thinking we were leaving at 9 to head up to Nashville. I awoke to a ground covered in white snow. Yes, SNOW.

My dad informed me that we were going to wait for a while and see if it cleared up. So we did. We waited and waited. Finally, my mom called my sister and after about 15 minutes it was decided that Paul would drive us there in this company truck. So, off we went and headed to David’s Bridal in Antioch.

I was nervous when I first walked in but it became easier. I filled out a form and they gave me a consultant. Her name was Miriam. She actually didn’t find me for about 5 minutes as we wandered over to the 10s and started looking. She told me to pick out about 5 dresses and to try them. So, I grabbed a strapless and several very pretty dresses, all under $500 and headed that direction. My mom caught her eye on a more expensive dress, $799 and Paul immediately told her to put it back, but she insisted. “Oh let her try it on.”

So, I go in the back and they give me the special bra and fluffy slip to put on for my underwear. Then we proceed to put dress number one on. It was a strapless dress. It fit me everywhere except at my chest. I mean, I’m a pretty blessed girl in that region and when it fits everywhere but THERE, it was obvious that they did that to make money in alterations, because I’m blessed but I’m petite. In other words, I’m a skinny girl with curves. So, I modeled that dress for Paul and Tracey and I knew immediately that it was not THE dress. So I go back and this time I tried on a ballroom style dress. Well, it was fun, but I knew I wanted a train and it did not have one. So back to the dressing room. I tried on a pretty dress that was a halter top but it didn’t have a very long train, so back we go again. The next dress was THE dress. It was absolutely beautiful. And yes, it was the $799 dress. When I put it on my mother said, “Becca, that is BEAUTIFUL.” and when I went out to the mirror, I could tell it was the dress. It had the longest train in the entire store and it’s a halter top (I hate strapless dresses, yuck!). It’s beautiful and best of all, they had a special sale so I got $150 off of it, so only $649! Granted, it will need alterations, but I have almost a year before I have to do anything with it. I ended up trying on the veil and tiara with it and it was beautiful. I almost teared up.

I decided to try on another dress, just to make sure. I was right, I hated the next dress and Paul referred to it as being the chevete after the porsche.

So we purchased the dress and the bra/slip. We’re going to get the veil, shoes, and tiara at a later time, we just wanted to get the dress while we could.

All I have to say in advice is..

- Take all the advice you receive with a grain of salt. I went into the store with a good idea of what I wanted, I had pictures, I knew what styles looked best on my body frame and I tried on a few of each. In the end, the dress that worked for me was one my mother grabbed at last minute. So, don’t rule out any dress because of style or price.

So yeah, my best advice to give is to just be prepared and know about wedding dresses. I wasn’t in that store for more than an hour, seriously. It’s funny too because I had seen my dress online, but I thought it was strapless and ruled it out. It also helped that my mother and sister knew what they were doing. So take someone with you who knows about wedding dresses and makes sure you don’t get suckered into something.

So yeah, now that I have my dress I feel like I can relax a bit and it’s probably a good thing because school is about to kick my butt.

Valentine’s Day February 15, 2007
Filed under: Other — becca @ 1:03 am
I should be studying but oh well.

I had a pretty amazing V-Day. Last year V-Day was my one month with Gray and he was super sweet and brought me my gifts at midnight when I was working the desk at Judd. Yes, my man has skills. hehe

This year Gray surprised me at lunch with a big teddy bear. I’ve named it Mr. Bear. Later that afternoon he also gave me 4 roses, and showed me that he had originally bought me 12 dozen white roses, but they started to wilt, so he has been pressing them for me. And he got me chocolates and carmex (inside joke). It was a wonderful V-Day and we didn’t even go anywhere. Instead I was on duty and hung out with my girls and had bible study with my wonderful sophomore girls. It reminded me of my sophomore year on v-day bible study… good memories.

So yeah, things for the wedding are still coming along. Every now and then I freak out and think I’m not going to have time, but then I settle back down into school. Something that has been really bothering me though is how everyone has responded negatively to the fact that Gray and I will be engaged for over a year. Here is the low down as to that.

Before Gray and I were engaged we were talking about marriage. The idea of getting married in August came up and I had a horrible feelining in my gut, it didn’t feel right at all. Once we got engaged and I said we’d be getting married in May, people freaked out. They all started to say that we wouldn’t make it and stay sexually pure. It really hurt. See, I’ve got a past where I was not sexually pure (not as in sex, but just sexually) in a previous relationship. I’ve healed from that and I’m not under any circumstances going to have sex before my honeymoon. I just won’t. And then there are the people who are very negative about it. I wish people would mind their own business. We both now it’s going to be rough, but we don’t have another option and I feel that’s what God wants us to do. I graduate in December. It’s too much of a financial burden on my parents to have a wedding then too. The only other time to get married is in March and Gray doesn’t want to get married during the semester. That leaves this summer or next.. and this summer is way too soon. Yes, we know we want to get married but neither of us feel that we’re ready for marriage this summer. Marriage is not something to rush into, you must prepare. 6 months does not feel like a long enough engagement for me. Every person is different and for me, that’s too short. A year and 3 months is not ideal, but it’s what will work the best for us.

So anyway… that’s my rant for the night. I can say that my future husband is absolutely amazing and I’m very blessed to know him and have him in my life.


nocomment

Looking back on a week February 12, 2007
Filed under: Other, Gray, School, Crusade, Wedding — becca @ 3:31 pm
So, I’m taking a few moments to take a break from life and update you on life. My mondays are kind of crazy, but I’m halfway through the day and still alive! Yay!

A lot of things have happened this past week. I’ll start with Tuesday and work my way from there.

Tuesday: The second stressful day of the week. The day was crazy but I got to hear some stories that were very entertaining and I did a dance workshop for my Survey of World Music class. That was a very interesting experience. We learned some African tribal dance moves and had the drums going. It pretty amazing.

Wednesday: Oh how I definitely never learn not to procrastinate. I had the entire day to work on a paper but I put it off until later that night. I did get it finished, but it sucked big time. Other than that, my day was sort of boring.

Thursday: My last busy day of the week and it was a doosy. I ran around all day, ended up being able to get some dinner with great and enjoyed Cru. Then we went to DQ and I was so tired that Gray convinced me to go back to Lyon and I ended up breaking down crying in his car. It was very eye opening. I’m appreciating what I have now and realizing how thankful I am and blessed, for that matter. I believe we ended up playing Phase 10, but I don’t remember.

Friday: I actually got up and went to my morning class, then Gray and I went and setup bank accounts. He opened a checking and savings account while I opened a savings account. We rented two movies from Hollywood video and hung out for a while before I went to Jenny Rone’s for a movie night with my bible study. I also asked Lolo to be a bridesmaid in my wedding. She informed me of a flood in Wood. I went and watched the movie, met Jen, Alice’s sister, and then I went back and hung out with Gray for a while.

Saturday I don’t remember much of but I was on duty and nothing happened until Sunday morning…

Sunday: I got called at 9ish to go relieve Gwyn for a bathroom break and then we found out the McHenry basement was flooding. Yeah, Wood flooded and McHenry flooded twice this weekend. Not fun. I got off duty and went to do homework, went to a leadership meeting, and then played the game of Life till 1.

So yeah, my week was sort of eventful, but stressful.

The stress is about to hit the fan.. I have SO much due before spring break, it’s not even fathomable.

Tonight I have discipleship with Rachel, Sidelines staff meeting, and bible study.

I’m kind of tired.. and not looking forward to the long day of tomorrow. I just don’t have time for all of this…

In other news, wedding updates!!

I am proud to give a new website: http://www.grayandbecca.com!
Yay!

So with Lolo, that makes 4 bridesmaids… Gray asked his dad to be his best man and we’ve asked Beau Berman to marry us.
So, pretty exciting! Oh and Andrew Nelson is going to take our engagement pictures.

So right now I’m focused on school work, scholarships, and raising up support for Sweden.

I get to go on spring break with Cru as well!

God is so faithful. I’m so blessed. I just wish I didn’t have so much stress.


nocomment

On whimsy tales and other things.. February 5, 2007
Filed under: Other, Gray, School, Crusade — becca @ 11:47 pm
So I’ve decided that God is pretty amazing. I had discipleship with Jenny Rone tonight and I’ve realized lately how big of a deal the Bible is. Yes, I did know it was a big deal before, but I’m feeling something big from it lately. Like, God wants me to know so much and I keep pushing it away. I’m not trying to sound like a know-it-all but I’ve always felt called to God’s work and this is just another sign to me that I’m meant to be doing his work.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what God wants from me. I can’t seem to decide what to do when I graduate. I’m not quite ready to make that decision though. I know that I love Crusade and everything about it. I love my girls and I love God. God has been showing me a lot lately. Ever since I got engaged, I’m seeing a lot more of my selfishness. I don’t want to be the nagging wife. I want to be the wife that loves her husband and wants to take care of him. I want that passion behind my marriage. I want a lot of things actually. The more I look at everything, the more that I see how blessed I am. God has given me so much. For a long time I’ve been peering on the other side of the fence and God has been tapping on my shoulder.

Becca…

Turn around and see what I made just for … you….

It’s kind of amazing when I look back on the past few years. The steps I took that brought me to where I am today. I remember being the naive little girl I was back in high school. Back when everything was so innocent. Now I am ashamed of parts of my past. If anything, just because I did not follow or serve my God like I should have. I’ve been on two summer projects now and I’m going to Sweden this summer. God has so much to teach me and sometimes I wish I didn’t have the clutter of a schedule. I wish I could just enjoy my college career without those darn classes.

Perhaps I’m just rambling now. I just wish that so much of my college career was more on the people, the amazing people I’ve met here. I can not thank them enough for the impact they’ve had on me. The start of that list would probably be Mandy along with Teresa. Mandy has been around the longest. Even though we never see each other, she’s still a good friend of mine. I will never forget meeting her in Cummings, having aerobic dance with her… and then of course, living with her in Wood. The next on that list would be Teresa and the Wood girls… my best friends… I really feel like I don’t have a true best friend… other than the wonderful man I am marrying. But I think that’s how it should be. I’ve got some truly amazing women in my life. Women that I suck at keeping in touch with. Sometimes I just need to hear their voices… I could make a huge list of the women who impact my life… mainly now it’s Rachel, Shannon, Samantha, Kelsey, Bri, Beth, Trina… and of course.. countless others… I’m just struck so hard now by the fact that my world is changing. When I was in high school, I was so ready for college and now I’m on the verge of leaving college and I don’t want to. I’m not at all sure that I want to do journalism. I love to write, but I’m not sure it’s what I want. I’m so indecisive.

I’m really just rambling, but I’ve got so many thoughts.. and I wish I had time to consider them all and to seek God’s will at a deeper level. Perhaps I’ll just go to India and be a misisonary like Amy Carmichael.. that would be nice.


Oh how time flies…
Filed under: Other, Gray, School, Wedding — becca @ 12:34 am
So I’m in the midst of February, the last February of my college career. Crazy huh? Last semester I didn’t say that much, but I realize that this is truly my last spring semester. I’m so excited to face the real world, but scared as well. This week has really been a week to truly be thankful for what I have and what God has blessed me with. It was a tough week and this coming week is even more tough. School is trying to get ahead of me, but as long as I keep on my toes, I’ll be fine.

This weekend was good to relax and gain some perspective. I was on duty and it was rather quiet. Gray and I rented three movies and watched them: Lady in the Water, Material Girls, and Jaws. All three were good movies, although by the time we got to Jaws, I was bored. I also bought Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Producers and a double feature of The Gates of Splendor/A Night with the King… 3/4 I haven’t seen yet so that’ll come soon, probably this next weekend. We also re-decorated my hall for February with a V-Day theme. I’m having a social on V-Day for my girls. Also, Thursday we had the surprise party for Anne, which was a great success, she did not expect a thing. It was also nice to hear things from her culture and she told us a legend. Overall, it was a lot of fun.

Finally, tonight Gray and I did dinner and a movie. I needed to watch The Queen for a class so we decided to finally have our anniversary dinner.. and of course, to celebrate the fact that we’re getting married. We ended the night with a marriage preparation devotional we’ve been going through. This week we talked about the different types of love. I’m really glad that we’ve decided to focus on our relationship with God and each other. I’m proud to say that the majority of my wedding plans have been put to the side. I want our relationship to be key, not my planning, and I do have the time to spare. Although, I will be getting together with my lovely maid of honor this month to do some preliminary dress shopping. So exciting!

So yes, my weekend was wonderful and I’m not at all looking foward to my early morning or school tomorrow. Tomorrow is a busy day… I’m not sure that I’m ready for it. I guess we’ll see.. my personal time has disappeared it seems!

Craziness! February 4, 2007
Filed under: Other — becca @ 2:40 am Edit This
My life is, as usual, CRAZY! I’ve got an insane amount of work to do and I keep finding myself in these times of peril or at least of procrastination. There have been some ups and some downs, but God is working major things out. I’m just so thankful to have Gray in my life and God of course… they are both great. It looks as though we have someone to take our engagement pictures, so yay! Now I just need help in the actually photographer of my wedding. I’m looking into three different photographers right now.. so we’ll see how that all goes. Planning a wedding is so much work and I have a year! haha It’s been good though, to know that and not stress so much. I’m concentrating hard on school, my job, and of course, my girls. I love my bible study girls SO much!! However, I must say engagement must be in the water. Two girls.. one from high school, one from Clearwater Beach Summer Project just got engaged within a day or so of each other! Crazy! And at least one is getting married before me.. which is boo.. but I know my timing is just right.

So far we’re booking the church and stuff and then we just asked Britt to be our officiant, and he’s double checking. So I’m praying that works out because Britt is awesome and I’d love to have someone who knows us both marry us and it not be awkward. He said if it works out, we’ll be his only wedding for the year of 2008, craziness!

So yeah, Gray and I have been good.. it’s been challenging, I think communication is rearing it’s head to show both of us that marriage is all about communication, but we’re getting there. He’s been putting up with my craziness, that’s for sure. I love him for it. I still can’t believe I’m getting married!

School, on the other hand, it’s going to be a challenging semester. I’m putting as much effort as I can into school work without driving myself crazy. I’m hoping for straight A’s this semester, but I’m also hoping to survive without going insane! My practicum is not what I thought it’d be, but it’s a whole lot of writing, so we’ll see.

Well, my thoughts are kind of hazy and I need to get some sleep. Perhaps I’ll write more tomorrow.



So yeah.. life, school, and other stuff January 27, 2007
Filed under: Other, Gray, School, Crusade, Wedding — becca @ 1:46 pm Edit This
I apparently had a post written that I had forgotten about. Oh well.

I am in Memphis! It’s been kind of hectic, but I’m here and it’s nice to be relaxing a bit. Gray and I ran into traffic in Nashville last night and didn’t get to leave until almost 7 when we left school around 4… kind of crazy. But we finally arrived and I’ve been thinking a lot. Despite what everyone has told us about how hard a year+ engagement will be, so far it’s been good for us. We’ve talked and haven’t felt desires pounding on us. In fact, we haven’t really seen much of each other and when we have, it’s just been nice to talk. Yes, we are excited and the funny thing is, we’ve planned more of the honeymoon than anything else. Well, as in where we want to go and what we want to do. hehe I guess that’s to be expected though. My wedding plans are sort of on hault until February gets here and I have time to go and do things. School and my schedule are sort of kicking my butt right now and forcing me to put wedding planning on the side. I’m trying to focus on keeping my school work done so that I can go ahead and do some planning, but no, school is kicking it’s head in the way. Oh well, it’ll happen.

On a plus note, I’m really surprised and excited to be adding new girls to bible study. Shannon and I currently have Faith and Grace, April, Rachel, Kelsey, and Danielle and now we’re adding Valerie and she’s bringing a girl named April as well. That’s such a blessing! I’m excited to see how the semester goes but it sort of makes me sad also. Like, I know that I still have another semester to go, but it seems like that semester will be completely different. Hmm I guess we’ll see. Well, I need to go and enjoy the company I have here.

Oh and my sister and Paul are finally officially engaged, with ring and all.. So now she has the ring and the wedding dress and I imagine she’ll get married this summer… hopefully not while I’m in Sweden.. but we’ll see.


Wedding Planning and the start of a semester January 21, 2007
Filed under: Other, Gray, School, Wedding — becca @ 11:59 pm Edit This
So this weekend is starting out in a pretty awesome way.

Gray and I went home this weekend so I could show my ring off to my family and so we could book my church for the wedding. Well, that’s an entire other story, but basically my church doesn’t book that far in advance so my mommy dearest is taking care of that for me. It was rather annoying actually. We talked about budgeting and basically, my mom said we’d get the dress first and then work on the budget so hooray! She’s actually giving in to a few areas in which I did not think she would, like my budget. I am fully willing to work with them and I have a lot of time. I’m so glad I’ve got over a year, I can’t imagine trying to plan a wedding with my schedule! It looks like a lot of planning will be done this summer, but I’m hoping to get a start soon and I can’t wait. My little maid of honor and I will be hitting bridal stores soon (hopefully!). I want to have the bridesmaids dresses picked out soon because Shannon has applied for Stint. It shall all fall into place and the great thing is Gray and I have plenty of time to focus on what is most important, our relationship being centered on God. I think that’s the top priority for us. I am not just planning a wedding, it’s about God. We started going through a devotional type workbook designed to prepare you for marriage and it’s been good to hear what we think and what we want. I’m also reading a book about being a wife after God’s own heart. I read a book that Gray’s dad had told me to and I recommend it to anyone getting married. The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura S. Trust me, I don’t care how great you think you are, that book is AMAZING!

So anyway, the semester has started off and I already have homework. I’m doing a practicum with Sidelines and my first of many articles is in tomorrow’s paper so check it out! I’m enjoying the semester so far and I hope it goes by fast because I can not wait for the summer! However, I am not looking forward to my last semester here at all. Boo to that.

So anyway, Gray and I are doing very well and we’re both very excited. We’ve gotten an overwhleming amount of congrats and it’s been wonderful. Thank you to everyone who has screamed (Beth, haha I love you girl!) or have hugged me or whatever. I think I’m really beginning to feel this amazing feeling and it’s all the Lord’s doing. For so long I struggled with wanting this and God was faithful. In fact, that’s the song I want played at my wedding, ‘Faithfully.’

So, I’m off to go get ready for bed, hooray for a wonderful week ahead of me.


Engagement, School, and my Schedule January 19, 2007
Filed under: Other, Gray — becca @ 11:50 am Edit This
The past week has been absolutely insane! First off, Sunday night I got the surprise of a lifetime when my boyfriend of a year (as in, that was our anniversary) asked me to marry him. I’m still not sure that I realize that I’m getting married! I’m so thankful God has brought us together and planned everything and I’m feeling so overwhelmingly happy. It’s a crazy experience!

School started back Tuesday and already my schedule is CRAZY! I’m taking 17 hours this semester, one of which is a practicum with Sidelines. So far everything has been going very well. I’m already getting homework, but I’m trying hard not to procrastinate, at least not too much.

So, the week has been crazy but it’s been so much fun. I’m starting to figure out some basics for my wedding. I’ve got 3 amazing and wonderful and beautiful bridesmaids who are all my best friends and I’m so excited they are going to be in my wedding! Miss Rachel Atwood is going to be my maid of honor and I’m freaking excited about it! My little ball of energy!!! haha And then Samantha Smith and Shannon Beels are my other bridesmaids. I’m so glad that things work out according to God’s plans because I couldn’t imagine my wedding without those three. So far Gray hasn’t made a decision other than his brothers will both be his groomsmen, but other than that, he’s not sure who will end up being his best man. I’ve made a few other decisions, but right now I’m just waiting to go home and confirm some things like for one, my adorable little niece will be my flower girl! aww sooo precious!

Ok, so school has been very busy and I’m so thankful it’s the weekend. I’m going to go home for a day and visit with my family and I’m excited about it! Most of all, I’m thankful that I’m so blessed to be given the most amazing man in the world as my future husband and all of it is because I let God write my love story. Aww.

So yeah, I’m sure more updates will come, planning a wedding at least makes my life more interesting, haha. Oh and right now we’ve set the date for May 10, 2008. Hooray!

I guess I'm posting because I'm bored.

So I'm almost finished with this chaplain application, that's good, though it seems to be taking forever.
I
need to study for a couple tests I have next week, one in particular,
because it's Dr.Simmons and he has a 96 for an A and I'm told his tests
are insane.
Um, I'm glad for this weekend, I guess, Monday should be
pretty flippin sweet, paul and I are going to sugar mountain to ski all
day long.
The only problem with that is when we get back it'll be
super late, and I have to get up at like seven thirty to meet with a
professor before I have class all day and then study the rest of the
following evening.  So I think I'll be sleeping through chapel then.
And probably the coolest thing right now is that I am only one week and six days away from IRELAND!!!
YEAH BABY!
I can't believe it's that close....
Pretty crazy
and yes eveyone, there will be plenty of pictures and video footage for you all to have the second hand Ireland experience

INFPs are pretentious.

I am doing some parkour tonight, hopefully. I gotta figure out how to land properly, otherwise I will probably break something tonight. On camera.

i need help!

so if you watch grey's, were you disappointed in last nights episode?

Get the code at www.winterrowd.com

Every now and then when I'm studying, something I am studying just begs to be posted. I don't know why. Maybe so someone else can benefit from it. I have been studying the book of James and this just needed to be posted:

James 1:

Listening and Doing  19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21Therefore,
get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly
accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But
the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and
continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he
will be blessed in what he does. 

Today was apathetic, for lack of a better term. It was
slightly amusing at best.

 

This whole weather thing we’ve been having all week is
confusing to me. One week ago it was freezing outside and practically snowing.
Now? Now it’s warm enough to wears a sleeveless shirt. Very odd indeed.

 

Leslie and I had a small jam session today, I was listening
to Breaking Benjamin and she came in and just snatched an ear bud. We stood
there and started singing along with them and soon enough we were dancing like
a couple of dorks. I just love those random little bonding moments friends
have, and that was one of them.

 

I have a new name, a few friends of mine got really bored one
period and decided to give everyone nun names. Mine is Sister Jamie Catherine,
Abbey’s is Sister Abbey Maria, and John is His Holiness the Pope and Mother
Superior. How’d he swing that one?

Thanks to everyone that made my birthday special... Thanks for all the notes, cards, emails, messages, etc... And a special thanks to those that were able to endulge at the Cheesecake Factory...

And Rach totally made it the best day ever...

Fortunately, this birthday turned out much better than many previous ones...


photo from rachael

yummmm... 

Nathan is 23 today!  In honor of his 23rd birthday.....23 Reasons why I love Nathan Moore.....

1.  He is a great brother


2.  He LOVES Jesus

3. He married Rachael...and is a great husband


4. He asked me to take his engagement pictures


5.  He makes funny faces


6.  He likes good music.

7.  He's a mac guy...and was before it was cool


8.  He is friends with the Waffle House Guys (the picture makes me laugh EVERY time I see it :) )


9.  He had an underwear showdown with my man.......not sure who won that one


10. He loves Callie.........and she loves him........


11.  He is a model (or likes to pretend)


12. He is a member of the Happy Hands Club


13. He likes to have food fights with me....good thing we have Sydney to clean it up


14.  He thinks it is fashionable to wear doilies on his head....


15.  He is not a picky eater......


16. He created phusebox and advertises with this goat


17.  He followed God and went to New York..and totally fit right in


18. He took me with him when he moved to New York (I'm in one of those boxes)


19. He talked to me about how he should propose to Rachael


20.  He thought these ladies were as funny as I did


21. He helped organize Paint the Town


22.  Whenever he came home from New York he always made to to go out to eat with me...just me and him

23.  We like to laugh really hard late at night about silly things





Those times are my favorite!

Make sure you wish this awesome guy a Happy Birthday!!!

I love you, Brother!

Ok, so I never hit my stride this week.  It was a complete and absolute "muddle through" week. Nevertheless, there were accomplishments and it is now Friday.

Speaking of accomplishments ... remember that I mentioned that the religious advisors said it would quit raining on 18-Feb ... but CNN said otherwise. Well, there's been 4 days since Sunday (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu) ... and it has rained every day. Enough said.

Decy has been doing a bit of shopping for material this week - she is going to have a dress made for her and a tuxedo made for me for the Opera in April.  I've never owned a tux before (I've rented some, but never owned).  And, haven't had much of a chance to use one over the years ... but I suspect I will have a number of chances here in Jakarta .... soooo .....

BTW, been getting harassed at work (as follow through on the Saturday company party award) .... I've been called one of the Blues Brothers, the man in black, Tony from the mafia, a pimp, and who knows what else.

As for this weekend, I have some work I will need to do ... plus taxes ... plus catch up on my finances a bit .... I doubt I will hash on Saturday ... but one never knows.

Gotta go ... sorry .... its "already" 442am ... and I have some things I have to take care of before leaving for work.

ciao ciao

Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.

Thank you, George Patton

--
One of my favorites

today is nathan's birthday, who happens to be the most wonderful man ever! so everyone please wish him a happy birthday! he is really incredible, trust me!



who else can be this awesome?!

[i love you, nathan! i hope you have a perfect birthday! thank you for being so amazing! happy birthday]

In the past month I've grown so much closer to God than ever before and it's amazing to see how much more can be thrown my way because I'm so close to Him right now. I've had a lot of people tell me that I look happier and smile more than they ever have seen me and it is completely and totally God. I finally have him at the very center of my life.

The main part of it is that I need prayer right now. Prayer to keep focused and remain silent.....so I know what I need to do for Him. I want to keep my happiness close to my heart because of Him and fight away everything that is trying to pull me down. I need strength in a huge way.

So. I'm asking for your prayers....please.

What do you wanna be when you grow up?????

It's amazing how much I've changed since high school...

So, I found out that I have to take a personality test and a physchological test before I can go on the mission field. I wonder if Sandy can help me study... I'll never pass on my own.

Now, if only someone can help me cheat on the physical... No amount of studying will help on that one. I am going for the complete cheat.

Quick Question
What are you passionate about?

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL
DAY IN THE BORO!!!!

Sure wish it were Friday ... I'm feeling a bit like Paul ... too much work and too little sleep.  Trying to spend some time with the family each evening but it just gets harder and harder.  Most nights are a maximum of 6 hours sleep.

Sadly, have only been able to muster the strength for exercising one morning this week. As for today ... I "slept in" ... 4am get-up instead of 330am.

... sorry this is short ...

I must be short. I've worked 2 days strait on homework and I'm still far from done. I have class in 5 minutes. I've had little sleep and am very hungry right now, but I have no time to stop. If I can push through till thurday night I'll be ok. That's my update. I'm to busy to tell more right now.

i have to pay 80 dollars worth of parking tickets. blah

piece

every girl dreams that one day she will find a boy that
does these things for her. even the smallest action can have the
BIGGEST impact in someones life.







• leave her cute text notes.


• kiss her in front of your friends.


• tell her she looks beautiful.


• look into her eyes when you talk to her.


• let her mess with your hair.


• touch her hair.


• just walk around with her.


• forgive her for her mistakes.


• look at her like she`s the only girl you see.


• tickle her even when she says stop.


• hold her hand when you`re around your friends.


• when she starts swearing at you, tell her you love her.


• let her fall asleep in your arms.


• get her mad, then kiss her.


• tease her and let her tease you back.


• stay up all night with her when she`s sick.


• watch her favorite movie with her.


• kiss her forehead.


• give her the world.


• write her letters.


• let her wear your clothes.


• when she`s sad, hang out with her.


• let her know she`s important.


• let her take all the photos she wants of you.


• kiss her in the pouring rain.


• when you fall in love with her, tell her.


• and when you tell her, love her like you`ve never loved someone before.




-*-*-*-*-*-*-

guys repost as : i`d do this for her.


girls repost as : the perfect boyfriend


if you don`t repost this in four minutes you will lose the one you love.


if you do repost this in four minutes the one you love will :


call you;


kiss you;


love you back;

every girl dreams that one day she will find a boy that
does these things for her. even the smallest action can have the
BIGGEST impact in someones life.







• leave her cute text notes.


• kiss her in front of your friends.


• tell her she looks beautiful.


• look into her eyes when you talk to her.


• let her mess with your hair.


• touch her hair.


• just walk around with her.


• forgive her for her mistakes.


• look at her like she`s the only girl you see.


• tickle her even when she says stop.


• hold her hand when you`re around your friends.


• when she starts swearing at you, tell her you love her.


• let her fall asleep in your arms.


• get her mad, then kiss her.


• tease her and let her tease you back.


• stay up all night with her when she`s sick.


• watch her favorite movie with her.


• kiss her forehead.


• give her the world.


• write her letters.


• let her wear your clothes.


• when she`s sad, hang out with her.


• let her know she`s important.


• let her take all the photos she wants of you.


• kiss her in the pouring rain.


• when you fall in love with her, tell her.


• and when you tell her, love her like you`ve never loved someone before.




-*-*-*-*-*-*-

guys repost as : i`d do this for her.


girls repost as : the perfect boyfriend


if you don`t repost this in four minutes you will lose the one you love.


if you do repost this in four minutes the one you love will :


call you;


kiss you;


love you back;

So according to a personality test I had to take to see if I'll be a good teacher, I have a really hard time expressing my emotions. It basically says that I'm horrible with words, and while I'm horrible expressing myself, in pretty much any aspect, I pick up on others moods and body language really easily. I would say that's pretty that's about the closest anything has ever been to explaining me. It says lots of other stuff too like I'm more shy than outgoing and fairly open-minded and very sensitive, but I found that point the most interesting.

On another note, so as I said last night, Dorm Wars was absolutely amazing. I'm feeling it today though. I'm covered in bruises, but it was completely worth it.

I'm coming home this weekend, and I'm really looking foward to it. I love it here, but I need a break for a couple days. There are a ridiculous number of girls in our hall trying to start drama. And there's a whole other awful situation going on right now that I really just want to be over! I would kill for people to just be honest for once!! There seems to be a new conflict arising every day around here and I've found myself very anti-everyone for the last couple days due to it. Friday needs to hurry and get here!

You seem so far away.

You seem like you couldn't care less.

You seem cold to me.

You seem like you think I'm merely an appurtenance along for the ride.

I feel like you don't respond.

I feel like I must intiate every bit of contact.

I feel like I'm trying for nothing.

*Edit*

Yes, it's about someone in particular...

Haven't been on this in about a month... seems like longer than that but hey what ever!?!?

well who i "liked" i have decided i "like" them better as a friend and enjoy their company as a brother! i think i made the right decision. I also found out the other night about 2 weeks after i had made decision, finally, that he only likes me as a sister/friend also..so it all works out to Gods plan~ !lol..

well... i am pretty sure that i officially know what classes i will be taking next year...!!!! its going to be an interesting year!

well i might get back on later... or a month from now...lol

Love Ya ALways!!!

.:*Kah~Rista*:.

sup???? well i am watching american idol right now and i am like super dooper bored!!! i cant wait till church tommorrow night.... yesterday i went to the mall and got some really cute dress pants and a really cute t-shirt...... the t-shirt was only like $4 and my dress pants were only $7 and i got them at khols... it was awesome!!!! and we went to the mall..... okie dokie well i was sooooo hyper and i had a crazy day at school 2-day.... this guy was apparently going to ask me out and everyone knew in the mini shcool except for me and so my friend comes up to me and asked me if i said yes and i thought she was talking about a conversation that we had friday... so i said yes ...she she told this other girl that we were going out... so i had to run down the hallway and tell this kid and my friend was mistaken and we were NOT going out.... and that i didnt like AT ALL!!!! but i had a good reason... he might have been cute.... but he was extremely rude... and always talking about "STUFF" okie dokie well now that you know my story about today i guess i will go.....

*tootles*

Emily

so ya my life has been a wreck so far for this week!!!!!.......... lordie have mercy!!!!! oh gosh it has been carzy and it has JUST STARTED!!!!! i havent been feelin to well today but that might be cause of my mom bein sick and stuff....... oh ya and my dog ran away AGAIN last night it took us like an hour to find her. so i went off to try and find her and you know what?? right when i did they found her so i was off wanderin around lookin for her and there they were lookin for me!!!! so my mom got in the car and found me on the first street lookin for that gay dog!!! oh ya and i was sittin in my bed ballin cause i thought that still hadnt found her and it was my fault that she ran away so then they finally decided to tell me at 11:00 last night  so ya that is how my week has been like so far............. i wonder if it will get better??????????!!!!!!!!

lov ya!♥♥♥♥-

caroline

Another Random List About Me

1.  I love to clean for hours for two very specific reasons.....I'm either very very happy or I'm very very stressed.

2. I hate it when a guy calls me hot.  I don't view it as a compliment at all. I say choose a different word.

3.  My nieces mean everything to me.

4. When I'm mad or hurt about something, I choose to ignore it until I find the best way to confront it because I don't want to say the wrong thing.

5. I'm a people pleaser.

6. I love to take risks that have nothing to do with the heart.

7. I have different smiles that not many people have figured out yet.

8. My favorite: hugs.

9. The greatest thing I think I could ever be in my lifetime is be a good mother and wife.

10.  I'm just a teeny teeny bit on the stubborn side. ;-)

*sigh* I went to the dentist today expecting a simple
filling. But no, Fate decided it’d be a real sweetheart and add a root canal
AND a cap. Yeah, I can’t feel the right side of my face and I’m drooling like
an idiot. My face feels like latex rubber.

 Now that I’m done
complaining for the most part, I gotta go.

This subject matter (er, title) could make good sermon material for Chris some day.

Consistency - not as the term is used for measuring texture, but as the term is used for describing "the absence of changes".

Balance - not as the term is used to describe a piece of equipment, but as the term is used for describing "not too much" and "not too little".

About consistency - you may recall that on occassion I have opined regarding the lack of hot water in our house.  Well, that was finally resolved - not sure how, but it was.  I can only presume that the hot water heater inlet or outlet was closed or plugged, the pump wasn't working, or the thermostat was turned WAY DOWN.  No matter the reason, we now have abundant hot water.  But ... there is catch ... consistency (or the lack thereof).

First, you have to understand that water systems here are not like the US ... we have city water (with little to no water pressure) ...and we have well water (which requires a pump).  These water streams are mixed together (somehow), run through a water purification system, stored on the roof, then brought into the house as needed.  There are booster pumps in/around the house that provide us with the water pressure for water usage - sometimes the pumps work .. sometimes they do not, and when they do work, they may be intermittant pumps vs constant pressure pumps - I do not know.

Now comes the challenge ... there are so many pieces to water system that it is impossible to maintain consistency of pressure of the cold water line and the hot water line .... imagine you are in the shower ... get the water balance just right .... jump into the water stream and start washing your hair (be imaginative if you are thinking about my hair) ... suddenly hot water pressure drops ... water turns colds ... so you jump out of the water stream ... finish washing your hair ... and wait for the pressure to rebuild ... ahhhh ... perfect ... so you jump back in ... rinse your hair ... but before you finish rinsing the hot water pressure is full bore again ... so now the water is scalding .... so you jump back out of the water stream ... lather up ... wait for the temperature to drop ... ahhh ... perfect ... jump back into the water stream to rinse off ... but then the hot water pressure drops again ... and you are getting iced !!!

A key challenge is setting the faucets so at least "on average" the temperature is reasonable ... and the extremes are manageable ... quite a challenge at 330am ... especially given that the temperature swing is probably 40-50 degrees.  Another key challenge is maintaining the self-discipline to NOT continually reset the hot water / cold water mix .... it is better to set it and leave it.

Now - about balance.  As we all know, an automobile has two primary controls for it heating and air conditioning system.  One control is the temperature control - on some cars this is an actual thermostat (such as is on our Fortuner) - on other cars it is a hot/cold slide bar or spin dial (such as on our CrV).  Now recognize, in Indonesia you do not need a heater (unless you are at 6,000 ft or higher elevation) - so most folks in Jakarta (sea level and below) don't ever use a heater.

Adjusting the A/C on our Fortuner isn't too bad, because you can set the temp you like and just raise and lower the fan speed as appropriate.  On the CrV, however, this is bit of a challenge sometimes ...

During the non-rainy season it is consistently hot here ... say 85-90 degrees.  During the rainy season (and especially after a hard rain) temperatures can drop to 75-80 degrees. This is where the challenge comes .... at the borderline between needing A/C and not needing it.

Yesterday, is a good example, it had rained all day .. it was borderline between needing A/C and not, and I was in the CrV .... our driver Yono had the A/C temp slide bar on the coldest position (where both drivers always keep it) ... as it kept getting colder and colder in the car ... I requested that the A/C be adjusted downward .... so, the fan speed was lowered.  Still being too cold, I asked for another adjustment ... however, Yono (and Mustafa is the same) doesn't realize that to do that requires RAISING the temperature, not just LOWERING the fan speed.  Unfortunately, the "next lower" fan position was "off" ... so that is what was done ... it was turned off.  Within 10 minutes, Yono was sweating to death because of the heat coming off the engine ... so we turned the A/C back on .... and we promptly swung to freezing again.

The above has happened several times.  There is no way I can explain the "proper use of the A/C" in bahasa and the drivers can't understand English.  Hopefully, Decy will be able to explain to both of them how the two functions work together .... of course, once on the rainy season ends ... the borderline situation will go away .... until next rainy season.

 ciao ciao ...

What I want..?

1. ~E
2. F -> J
:. ...

ISFJ or INFJ or ISTJ or INTJ or ISTP or INTP

Guideline, not a rule. Laugh, it makes me feel less nerdy.

:)SMILE JESUS LOVES YOU:)

Well, I'm not sure if one day is changing my life at the moment, but it was a possibility, and that in itself was a pretty... well... intriguing thought.

But really, I bet single days have had a far greater impact on my entire life than I realize. The day I chose to do certain things, or chose not to do certain things. It's quite crazy. Moving to TN changed my life. Going to Belle Aire changed my life. Going to Riverdale changed my life. Going to MTSU is changing my life. Several decisions have shaped my life, and I am interested in seeing what's down the road for me and how God will bring about the desires of my heart. Will I really get to do all these great things that I desire so deeply? Will I get to experience some of these things sooner than I have imagined?

I think I have a new perspective of how God can work in my life. He can work in ANY way. I suppose that sounds silly because I should have always known that, but I always felt that there were certain ways He would never move. And now I'm seeing how foolish it is to put God in a box. He can move in some pretty surprising ways...

I don't know how God wants to use me after this semester. Or even this semester. I don't know how He is going to use my talents and abilities. If I keep looking to Him though, I know that all of that will fall into place.

So Hughes Hall and Chambers won Dorm Wars. But regardless, it was awesome. I haven't had that much fun in SUCH a long time. We did win the shopping cart race so that's always exciting. But now I'm extremely tired and VERY sore. YAY FOR DORM WARS!!!!!

So for the most part I've finally settled everything with prom...as of today I have:

[x] Group (Lindsay Jesse Carrington etc. etc.)
[x] Transportation (Rental car, yes ma'am)
[x] Dress (Red, swishy, fun, exciting)
[x] Date (Tyler Northcutt)
[x] Hair (By my awesome friend Tara)

And as soon as some friend issues settle down, I will be sittin' pretty and very excited about the rest of this semester.  And pretty soon we start Act II of Children of Eden - I'm looking forward to that! - and then for Spring Break I get to go to Chicago with Lindsay, Jesse, and Tyler which is going to be so much fun and we're going to see Wicked and eat in Little Warsaw and everything.  And then I will turn eighteen a mere four days before I graduate!  As a valedictorian lol.  And then comes the summer...which will rock...and in the next couple weeks I will know whether I'll be a Gamecock or a Buckeye in the fall, and if I'll have to pay very much to be either.

So basically, God has been very good to me.  And I love Him.

Guess Monday was a holiday in the US ... for us working stiffs in Indonesia it was just another day in the office - however, not many people were there and a lot of extra work seemed to be shoved my way.  Lots of folks already starting to take vacation .... I haven't even used up my 2006 entitlement ...

Really nothing much to blog about today - I could talk about the gully washer we had yesterday ... but I'm sure all of you are tired of hearing about flooding.  Don't know whether to believe CNN (who says the rain is with us another week or two) or the religious advisors who said last Sunday was when the rain would stop - of course, it rained heavily on Monday ..... sooooo ...

Here's a heart wrenching story - I read in the paper the other day that a poor husband and wife went to the hospital to have a baby.  When they went to check out, the bill was ~$400.  The man didn't have the money ... but was able to round up ~$200.  The hospital released the mother but kept the baby "for collateral".  The man went to all his family members, friends, etc. and finally collected the remaining $200. When he went to pay the hospital bill and get his baby (about 10 days later), the hospital said the bill had grown back to ~$400 due to charges over the last 10 days.  The hospital took his $200 but wouldn't give him the baby.  Thankfully, the guy went to the press - there was a tremendous outroar from the community.  The hospital finally acquiesed and gave the man/woman their baby and forgave the $200 for the "10 day overstay".

I visited with Decy RE the above, she says it is quite common for this to happen as most people can't afford any type of health care, much less delivery of a baby ... and so "keeping the baby" is the only way the hospital can ensure it gets paid.  This was heart wrenching to me ... especially given that our maid Wiwi is pregnant.  This WILL NOT happen to Wiwi.

- - - I wonder how many babies have never been collected because a family didn't have the money - - a very sad thought

Ciao ciao.

military ball.
[[and then ihop.]]
^_^

 i am tired of 90% of the ppl at meh school i am severing old friend ships that are bad for me and trying to start new ones. i dont fit in with one particular group i am friendly to everyone. most ppl like me but all i want is at least one person that i can relate to on the deepest levels while at the same time have fun( making silly movies, playing spies in the parking lott, hiding in clothes racks and whispering "pick me" when some one is looking through the clothes.) i love being me i wouldnt want to be anyone else i love my momsy and dadehy and samy sue( sister)(samantha) and my kitty sterling they make my life awsome but it would be awsome to have someone to talk to and really let loose around not having to make my walk through life alone but sharing it and making memories to look back on when times arnt so hot. idk lots of ppl probably feel this way idk but every where i look i see those best friend bracletts and charms and i wish i had someone like that. but the biggest thing that holds me back from having that is i am so different than others here in auburn and i have beliefs so yeah w/e but untill then ....

fuck

i am bored

i've decided that i might make a new post since i havent in like years..sarcasism....well if i get remarks i will keep posting blogs...if not then o well....we shall lose touch....

                    i love you!!

She has just kissed him, without warning and spontaneously. He stands in shock, staring at her with an expression that reads what the hell just happened here. A blush on her cheeks and stammering, she explains her actions and tells him just what’s going on, slowly getting stronger as she goes.
Ok… so that was sudden. You always kissed me; I didn’t kiss you. But this was different, I had to. I’m sorry… wait… no I’m not. I’ve wanted to do that for so long it’s unreal, and I’m not sorry I did. You may be, but I’m not. You see, you’ve been driving me crazy for a year and a half. Sitting there, unreachable, daring me to do something about the way I feel, silently and subtly, but still. It’s like this. I spent the first of this mess telling myself to stop, telling myself that you’d just hurt me and it wasn’t worth it. But that failed. I pushed you away, and I pushed hard. Or at least I tried to anyway. And when I couldn’t, well I sort of fell apart. I knew I couldn’t have you, that I could never be with you. It was a simple reality. I’d tried flirting; I’d tried everything and nothing worked. You didn’t even notice. It drove me nuts, and then you left. You moved and left me here alone with no answers and a broken heart.

It was you who raised the questions, with the flowers and the bears and the hugs and damn it the kisses. The simple kisses that left me confused. What were you? Who were you? What were we? Were we friends? Were a friend who I could kiss and get away with it? How did you feel about me? Did you think of me as a friend or more? Why? Why were you kissing me? Why were you letting me get so close?  Did you know how I felt? Did you care? What was I? You went to another state, miles away and left me with all these questions floating in my head. Do you realize what that’s like? To feel like the person you are supposed to be with is that far away, when you feel empty and alone. To feel like you’ll never be with them, and hoping they are happy anyway. Do you know how hard it is to live like that, day after day?

Girls like me are a dime a dozen. I’m nothing, just a simple country girl from the south. I’m nothing special. I’m not the most beautiful flower in the garden; I’m the simple daisy next to the rose. All I have is my mind. I’m smart, not pretty; I waited too long in the line for smarts and missed out on the looks department. I’m replaceable. You can find another like me if you just look. But you are special. No one else in the world can make me feel like this. You make me feel alive; you make me feel special, like I’m more than just one of the guys, more than just a regular country girl. I know you probably don’t want to hear this, and I know I’m probably just freaking you out. But I have to say it, before it eats me alive.

What I’m trying to say… how do I say this without freaking you out? Why is this so damn hard? I love you. I’ve fallen in love with you, and it’s scaring me to death. I tried to stop. I tried to tell myself not to; I tried… but I couldn’t. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t help it. Somewhere between the moment I met you and the moment I watched you drive away from me into the night; I realized I loved you. But it was too late. You were gone and there was nothing I could do about it. Until now. And I have to tell you, cause its killing me. I can’t take it anymore. If it means that I’m about lose one of the best friends I have so be it. I guess it’s better that you know I feel this way and walk away, then for me to keep hiding in the dark. If you want to walk away that’s alright, just go. But walk away know this one thing: I love you, and I always will.

Trustworthy
Loyal
Helpful
Friendly
Courteous
Kind
Obedient
Cheerful
Thrifty
Brave
Clean
Reverent

Does this describe me?

every girl dreams that one day she will find a boy that
does these things for her. even the smallest action can have the
BIGGEST impact in someones life.







• leave her cute text notes.


• kiss her in front of your friends.


• tell her she looks beautiful.


• look into her eyes when you talk to her.


• let her mess with your hair.


• touch her hair.


• just walk around with her.


• forgive her for her mistakes.


• look at her like she`s the only girl you see.


• tickle her even when she says stop.


• hold her hand when you`re around your friends.


• when she starts swearing at you, tell her you love her.


• let her fall asleep in your arms.


• get her mad, then kiss her.


• tease her and let her tease you back.


• stay up all night with her when she`s sick.


• watch her favorite movie with her.


• kiss her forehead.


• give her the world.


• write her letters.


• let her wear your clothes.


• when she`s sad, hang out with her.


• let her know she`s important.


• let her take all the photos she wants of you.


• kiss her in the pouring rain.


• when you fall in love with her, tell her.


• and when you tell her, love her like you`ve never loved someone before.




-*-*-*-*-*-*-

guys repost as : i`d do this for her.


girls repost as : the perfect boyfriend


if you don`t repost this in four minutes you will lose the one you love.


if you do repost this in four minutes the one you love will :


call you;


kiss you;


love you back;