hmm...you're the kind that I thought only existed in the books that I read...the kind that dream of fighting off bedoins, dining with s heiks, sneaking through the jungles of Africa, governing a ship headed for nowhere, and walking the streets of Prague, all while never knowing the right things to say nor saying the things that I want to hear...but reminding me of the dreams that I'd left behind...and telling me in a loud toned voice that nothing is impossible...the type that dosen't exactly sell off the shelves but still contains that adventure and spontaneous character...yes, I've come to find that you're exactly that kind, the kind that I'll ultimately fall in love with.

camp was amazing

MATTRESS is going to be GREAT

i love my friends

    At least for me :-) Thanks to everyone who came tonight. It was fun... Oh and to Pastor Kenny who said I needed to do SOMETHING on my last night... I squirted one of my managers with water... and then grabbed ice before going to say goodbye to the other and stuck it down his collar :-) that was fun... Oh and I think he's going to come Sunday night to see the fine arts performances so that should be cool. But I am now officially done and my last night was a blast!!
Goodnight to all and to all a goodnight.

ok well i'm really tired but i can't sleep at all so i'm staying up even though i feel like crap but yeah that has to do with the braves game though.

-Mosey

Im wasting my time away on this blasted computer again.

I took a MOTORCYCLE SAFETY COURSE this past weekend and learned how to ride a motorcycle. There was a test at the end... I passed, and did well. It's funny going from losing contole while walking a motocycle across a parking lot (letting it idle and 3/4 pull you) to taking a 135 degree turn at 15mph and only having a 2 foot path to travel and nailing it, and all this in 2 days (which isn't that easy).

I learned a LOT. Anyone considering getting a motorcycle or who is
interested SHOULD take this course. It's amazing. I think I've decided
to get a Honda Rebel. It's a smaller bike, but after riding 250's for
the last 2 days, I'm sure the Honda Rebel 250 is not short on power. It
can go interstate speed for somewhat limited periods of time (like
maybe out to the Jensen's kind of riding). This bike is $3000 new, so
I'm hoping to pick up a used one for much cheaper…. If anyone knows of one let me know.

Ok, now we are in Midland, Texas.  Really the climate isn't much different here.  It does get a little hotter during the day, but not much.  Sunsets are beautiful.  We got into Texas at about 10:00pm yesterday, so we got to see the sun go down while we were on the road.  Gorgeous.  Ok, well thats all for now.

OH yeah... adams dad cooks great steaks... yummmmmm

Shit,this entire thing is old.

It's almost the end of the summer.

And I'm almost 100% happy.

It's insane how weird this summer has been. This entire past year has been.

But,I've realized,finally.

I need No One to make me happy but myself and a friend.

tim mcgraw and faith hill = amazing.

before we left..

on the way..

eating at fridays..

finally--

faith hill

..and tim mcgraw

what a fun night?! =)

Ridiculous doesn't even begin to cover it.

Lately, everywhere I look I see answered prayers along the journey. Things I prayed for when I was fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen years old have been revealed to me over the past year. I would suggest that we take a moment and say a few more prayers for ourselves five years from now.

God has it all covered. He's got this amazing story he's writing for us, but everytime we try to jerk the pen from His mighty hand a squiggly line is made in our story.

Do you like it when you're writing a totally awesome story, song, or poem and then have someone bump your hand causing the pen to go off the line and make a squiggly?

Neither does God.

Tomorrow is Disneyland Paris!  I am soooo excited!  Then on wednesday I get to see Trent!   I can't wait!

Everything is goin pretty well. At least I think? I've still been really busy at work, workin' all the time pretty much. Gotta go through hell and back to get a day off. There seems to be alot of confusion in my life about different things, but it's all good.Girls drive me insane. I need a guys night out, to do some manly crap. But anyway i'm not a stressing person, that part of me is gone. My car is bein so weird lately. There is this weird clicking sound coming from the engine that i can't pinpoint, and when i took it to get it fixed, the mechanics didn't hear anything.  I also took it to Audio Masters to get my stock radio back in so i can listen to my ipod while i drive. Well, it worked just fine for a few days, and then i started hearing feedback from my speakers. So i turned off the radio completely and i still heard it. So proceded to stop my car and took the key OUT OF THE IGNITION, and guess what....I STILL HAVE FREAKING FEEDBACK COMING OUT OF MY SPEAKERS!!!!!!!!! ITS DRIVING ME INSANE!!!!!!! I don't even know how that is possible, but it cant' be good. So if anyone knows anything that could be of help to me, let me know. Otherwise, i'm gonna have to cough up a good $300 for a new cd player and installation b/c i'm too mechanically retarded to do it myself (i tried it several times, and it didn't end well).Also i'm getting a new phone soon, so i'm sorry if u called me recently and i didn't respond. It's not b/c i don't like you, its b/c i can't answer it b/c all i will hear is blah blah blah. Some annoying 12 year old girl in brunswick had a crush on me and proceded to tell me this by dumping water all over me...and my phone. So its water logged. Anyway, some pretty cool chicas are coming up to visit me soon, and its all workin out pretty well! So I can't complain. Uhh i can't think of anything else to say, and this blog had no point to it at all, and its too long. So i'm out

BTW...WHO'S EXCITED TO BE A FREAKIN SENIOR?!?!!?! YEEEEEEAH BOYYYYYY!

~Garrett

"Echelon" by Pillar

Yeah so I'm back from florida.............. During my stay I thought about a question for all of you who read this.........

and I want your honest answer............

When you look at the ocean what do you think about????

                                IN CHRIST john

.... I love my family: Decy, Chely, Thasya, Josh, Chris, Paul, Norma, Tony, Andrew ..and especially mom and poncho.

And, I love my friends too ... for example, Tom, Franck, Stela, Drew.

Ok. Good night. Selamat Tidur. Boa noite ... ciao ciao.

Hey i got a question... Did yall enjoy Brother Dean's Sermon this morning? I thought it was great!

Hey guys i ususally dont blog twice in one day but i figured oh well...... my schedule for the fall semester is as follows!

English 1010-Expository Writing-MWF 8am-8:55am
Health 1530-Health and Wellness-TR 9:40am-10:35am
Lab Tues 8:00-8:55
Math 1000-Essentials of Math-TR 11:20am-12:45pm
Psychcology 1410-General Psychology-MWF 11:30am-12:25pm
University 1010- University Seminar-MWF 9:10am-10:05am

For a Total of 15 hours!

I have football everday at 1pm! Who knows how long it will last!

For the next 2 weeks i am going to be so bust with football! Everday! I have  a night practice on my birthday! I am sad! I had concert tickets but i guess i will have to sell them now! That really kinda sucks!

Does anyone else have any of the same classes as me? Hopefully i will know just one person in one of my classes!

Have a good day yall!

i don't do the song lyrics thing often... but its what i've been feeling lately. I hurt for the people of Israel and Lebanon and i know it won't get better til our Lord comes back for us and it won't really get better then. My heart just over flows out of this song excerpt.

"Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens to us who have died to live?
It's unfair. 

This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life and you survive.
This is what it is to be loved and to know that the promise was when everything fell we'd be held."

from Natalie Grant's Held 

Too many people are afraid of passion. 

Decy and the girls are somewhere over the Indian Ocean right now. I expect them to land in Singapore in about 5 hours. Its been a tough day for me ... emotionally, as well as trying to work from home.

On Friday, Decy received a phone call from the Indonesian Embassador to Namibia.  He wanted to wish her the best and advised he would contact us the next time he is in Jakarta.  Decy touched so many lives here ... from the highest levels of society (Indonesia is the 4th largest country in the world) to the most basic levels.  She is a beautiful woman, inside and out.

As for me, I'm hanging in there. I feel so empty; so incomplete without Decy.  She is my love, she is my life.

I have worked about 10 hours today (Sunday) on a major company issue.  I really want to be with Decy and the girls, helping them through this transition/change, sharing in their thoughts and feels.  Sadly, I am stuck here in Angola, trying to complete my work ... and already I am struggling with focus.

Back in May, I had to take a decision .... either send Decy and the girls early (to minimize distruption to schooling) or have them wait for me ...and risk the girls missing a month of school.  I chose to send everybody early.  I pray that was the correct decision .... time will tell.

Please continue praying for us.  For those of you who have never experienced international relocations, and (as in this case) the associated challenges of a "mixed marriage" you cannot imagine how challenging this is, logistically, emotionally, and physically.

Thank you. Bill

who are you willing to die for?

who do you love?

the same people should be on both lists.

i don't think you can really love someone unless you are willing to sacrifice yourself for them.

can't think of anyone that you would die for?

then, in my opinion, you have never loved.

i would like to say that i would die for anyone (after all, what could brian king ever do for the world?), but . . .

i can say that i would die for many--even most--of you.

who would you die for?

who do you love?

so i finnally saw it last night!! it was great. like everyone else said, the ending left me like "WHAT THE FRICKIN CRAP?!?!?!"

Holy Cow ! I just found Joe. You know the lost cow that I've been missing since Wed? He was in the field the entire time.

so... i thought it was time for a new blog.

i don't really have anything to write about.

except that i'm extremely thankful for all of my close friends. anoyone who's stuck with me through it all. anyone who's been there for me, or who i've been there for. anyone who makes me laugh or who's there when i need to cry. anyone who's actually seen me cry. anyone who puts up with my crap, weather it's me being conceited or self-concious.

i love you guys. so so much.

thanks, God. and thanks, freinds, for being mine. i hope i've been as good a friend to you all as you've been to me.

love, stevie

I'M GETTING BAPTIZED 2DAY!!!  AND SO IS THE REST OF MY FAMILY!  We all decided that we wanted to reaffirm our faith in God, so that's just what we are doing!  We were baptized when we were little, but our parents told us that we could get baptized again when WE made the decision ourselves.  I'm totally EXCITED!!!  YAY!!!  And I'm getting baptized in a lake, just like Jesus!  It's totally cool! 

For a long time, this has been something that I wanted to do.  When we just recently went up to Tennessee, I got resaved...if you know what I mean.  I felt like something was still missing though, and the one thing that I had left to do was to get baptized!  It's something that God told me and wanted me to do.  So now, I am! 

Please pray for all of us!  That we will become new in Christ and that we all change for the better, grow in the Lord, and become stronger Christians!  To listen and serve God how HE wants us to, bless others and Him, shine His light, show His love, and to use the talents that HE blessed us with to serve not ourselves, but others!

Thank you SO VERY MUCH to all of you who are so special!  I've really seen God shine through all of you and in return, even if you didn't know it, has helped me grow in my faith!  Thank you!

+GOD BLESS TIMES INFINITY!!!+

Christina Ruth

just got home from the weekend trip to atlanta. it was amazing. my first dci show, actually. finally got to see gg in person, and we got there in time to see all but the 1st 2 shows. im not really one for marching band, but some were really cool- spirit &cavaliers of course being my favorites. spirit made finals &cavys one by .025. i didnt get to see ben tho bc in his uniform its hard to tell who`s who. &the buses were far away so i didnt get to see him in person either. but it was alot of fun. makes me excited for this year.. and cant wait for gg to get back &learn it too.

and there was a rain delay in the georgia dome. odd, right? well it was bc the rain &thunder were so loud.. but then the roof got a leak or something where we were supposed to be sitting.. so good thing we were sitting somewhere else lol.

ok thats all :]

Hey yall!

I saw the funniest thing this morning! I was on my way to church and was driving down the road and i saw these two barbie doll looking girls in neon yellow jump suits picking up trash. As i drove by i saw that on the back of there shirt it said I AM A DRUNK DRIVER. The girls had on sunglasses and looked all dolled up. It was pretty funny. I wish i would have had a camera! Bye !

literally.

robbed.

thieves came in and stole the stereo out of my truck.

stupid theives.
[they left my amps, cds, and subs]

ignorance.

tha murf isn't like it used to be...

LOVE// Britt

As it appears the whole world is going to hell in a silk-lined handbasket, let's get inspirational.

Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he should be, and he will become what he could be. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. You were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -- Nelson Mandela

Coming together is a beginning.  Keeping together is progress.  Working together is success. -- Henry Ford

All great truths begin as blasphemies. -- George Bernard Shaw

There is nothing impossible to him who will try. -- Alexander the Great

Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

ok so it's been about a week since i updated so here's a little update. my car is running amazingly! except for the ac. it died the day after they put my motor in then me and daddy fixed it then it died again, so the conclusion is that my compressor is burnt out and i need a new one. ha. guess how much one costs? yeah $150. i think i'm gonna pass and yeah other than that i've just been working my ass off. i was in the back pressing shirts all week at the cleaner's then i was helping bill at the gas station b.c he had eye surgery. and yeah, total this week i worked 62 hours. not including all the cleaning and crap i did around the house. and i don't get another day off until my last day at work which is aug 11th. after that i'm off for two weeks. one of which i will be spending in florida. and yeah that's fucked up. first stacee was supposed to go then she couldn't, then angela was supposed to go but she's broke, and then on my third try i askd clayton if he would be interested in moving his week's paid vacay and coming and he is! i cannot wait! my favorite place and my favorite person all at the same time. and i'm definately due for a good vacation after all this hell lol. ne ways. oh on a new front, my brother is home! for good! u kno as big of an asshole as he is i still kinda missed him. he brought candace with him too. and yeah i'm outie. i gotta go to work. yay! ::sacasam:

to Missouri for HLUB.

be back next Sunday.

hopefully when we get back, that same day i leave for the beach :D hopefully.

please pray that ORAY [oak ridge alliance youth] gets to Missouri ok.

--Kelly<3

Check it out.  Pee Wee's Big Adventure!

Can you believe I'd never seen that movie before?  Ahhh, it was beautiful.  I couldn't stop laughing.

Anyways.  I'm tired.  And I'm working noon to six tomorrow... So bleh.  I need to get some shut eye.  'Night, all!

my party was amazing...
cause all the cool people showed up...
and the stupid people stayed home...
except randy had a good excuse...so i still love him...
the rest of you are stupid...

but i love...
meghan breaux
hannah breaux
jeremy zajas
stephen slate
chris slate
jessica hunter
becca hicks
beckie jensen
julie pyatt
danie stoffer
josh griffiths
josh dyer
chris morgan
stacy cohl

love to some of you...and pity to the rest...for missing the best party ever...lol
meag
poop

well i have seen clerks 2 but i dont know anyone else who has seen it and its starting to get depressing because i cant talk about it with anyone.


can anyone please help

    

              Yay! Pulp Fiction!

we pretty much rock you guys

our first 5 sets in an hour? ya thats pretty cool

the music is amazing

i love you all

no more phusebox??? ya right.

its amazing, band is. im so proud of us. the level of focus is so much higher. the music sounds amazing. we put our first 5 sets on in an hour.

as for myself. i got to conduct the opener yesterday. it was an amazing feeling. for the first time i wasnt conducting to a recording. i was conducting people that had the ability to watch me. i couldnt help but to smile like crazy through the entire thing. it was such a thrill.

went to summer music games yesterday. it was very cool.... until it started raining. so after an hour in the concord with thousands of hot, wet, sweaty kids they called the competition. while tring to leave. there was a kid sitting behind us that we ended up talking to for quite some time. sax player from some school in KY. so yeah we went to sonic after they called it and got home after 1.

well thats all the news i have for now

love you kids lots and lots

-milly

So Thursday, Tyler's mom called me saying Tyler was having panic attacks and was asking for me. So I went to go see him and help him feel better. It was scary, he had a mini one in the shower but I woke him up and held him till it was over. I cried a few times while he was in his resting and I was just petting him. We assume that all the stuff going on with band (instructors bashing him for being better than they are and him getting more respect from the students) cought up to him and his brain shut down. His mom got all fired up and said she was going to talk to the band director and hangout because she's been hearing some things about this happening to other kids as well. (She's scary when she's angry, much like him.) I'm just so glad he's okay.

 I think that after all the drama and stuff that's been going on the past month has been put to rest. That makes me so happy. Even though we fight more than we should, we both love each other, and that's what matters. Now that we've made-up and stuff, I can see a more healthy relationship around the corner, even though we'll be four hours apart.

We'll make it work. According to his mother, we are meant to be.

So yeah, I was on my way home yesturday around 9:00 and had a fender-bender. It's all ok, it was the wet road's fault and the other lady and myself are okay. The damage that I have are a busted headlight and bent hood, shouldn't be too much to get fixed. I'm just glad I'm ok.

I have like...17 days till I leave for school. I'm totally not ready.

I keep getting all these photos from me pal Elizabeth (THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). She has a ton, and naturally I get curious.

Ok, for those of you going to Fine Arts, We have one week. Yes, one week to scramble around and get everything together. And to add to the good news, school starts the following Monday.Whoppeee!! (read with the utmost sarcasm)

Yeah, I'm gonna be busy this week, I bought a pattern for a jacket today, and some fabric. Yes, I sew. Dad and I are probably gonna work on it tomorrow, dang last time we did something like that we wound up taking all day and blaring Guns'n'Roses and the Eagles. Then we have to assemble as much stuff for school as possible (be it known that I will be using the same backpack for the 3rd year in a row, which is a record for me) and pack all of our stuff for the trip. Any advice for this noobie will be most welcome.

I bought Memoirs of a Geisha yesterday (the book, not the movie. which I do need), and have almost finished it. I read it before, and it was great. It gets better when you see the movie a dozen times and then re-read the book.   On the same subject, Jennifer loaned me an Agatha Christie (Curtain) on Wednesday. Never was much of a fan, but this ones really good. I bought  And Then There Were None a few years ago for school and then never got to read it, so I think I know what I'll be doing on the plane ride.

 I've been reading alot lately I've noticed.I recently brought down a small bookshelf from upstairs to put at the end of my bed, so I went back upstairs and raided our stores (we have a small library up there, if only it was finished, I'd live up there) and brought down a butload of my old books. I found one that I've had scince 5th grade (Fat Chance) and started reading it, and have gone down hill scince then. In the week that has progressed it's gone like this Fat Chance-Taggerung-Angels and Demons- The DaVinci Code-Curtain-The Midwife's Apprentice-Memoirs of a Geisha-The Dragons Lair. And tomorrow I'm going to start a coulpe more, betcha didn't know I can read multiple books at the same time, did you?

In loving memory of

Laurie Middleton Brock... the most beautiful woman , inner and outer beauty. She was like my second mother, and my moms best friend. Visitation was today, and she looked beautiful , you try to keep emotions from flowing but its so hard. Death can be so scary , but when you know she is in a better place its not so scary anymore. But it still hurts, and I know everyone else is too... of my family and friends. Tomorrow is her funeral... its at Brookwood Baptist... and Laurie * when she could speak a couple months ago* asked me to sing for her on her day of celebration .. and that is what im going to do. "Amazing Grace" ocupela... so if everyone would pray that God sings for me, and that my emotions dont over take me... tomorrow is going to be hard... but I will be ok... I just cant believe this is happening....I hate it... but shouldnt we all want to be there... I think we should ... heaven is suppose to be a magical place... with no pain ... I wish I was there with her, but I know she is looking down on all of us. And tomorrow she will be looking down on me singing for her celebration of her wonderful life. She is like  my guardian angel..... pray for me and the family and friends. I keep on listening to the fix you song by coldplay... and the words so fit of my feelings... I love music.. its almost as cool as God.

~sarah

Okay, so the section isn't holding me back as much as I say. They're coming along, but not as fast as they should in the time we have left. By the time they get the music down, it'll be time for next marching season.

So I hit a SUPER C today. Then I hit a SUPER D. I'm very happy. Of course, getting those notes will have no effect in anything, besides maybe a great finish for a marching show or whatever.

But still. Since I'm so pumped, I guess I could try to pick up the Mid-state music again, even though I was gonna let it rest for a week, but I'll quit the week 2 days early.

There's so much that I expect from myself, but this puts things on a WHOLE new level.

Danny

Okay, I've asked this favour of you guys a million times before, but...

If you would please pray for me, I would be greatly indebted.  The power of faith is an incredible thing, no matter what that faith is, and I have a firm belief in its powers [yeah, I know, believe me or not].  Okay, the prayer request is pretty vague, but here goes:: A remarkable opportunity has come my way, and I'd give just about anything for it to come true.  I don't want to say anything more specific, in case it doesn't manifest.  [[I also believe that 'if you start out depressed, everything's kind of a pleasant surprise.'  Yeah, a bit pessimistic, but a coping mechanism nonetheless.]]  So if you could ask your God or Buddha or Beatific Tree Sprite, whatever is applicable... I would be very, very appreciative.  :)

Anyways.

Salsa dancing [written in red for spicy ambience]:: Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  Lessons start at 9:00.  May or may not be a cover charge [can't be in excess of $10, certainly].  I know ladies got in free on Friday [yesterday] night, and everyone did on Thursday, but I don't know whether those were one-night, uh, stands.  No experience necessary.  The instructor is wonderful.  He laughs and jokes but keeps the class moving and breaks it down for you.  The club is open until 3:00 AM, but of course you can leave whenever.  You can leave at 9:01, heck.  It's at Ibiza Nightclub, on Old Hickory.  Basically, your directions from Murfreesboro are:: Take I-24 West.  Take the Bell Road exit, and turn LEFT onto Bell Road.  Drive, drive, drive.  When you come to the intersection with Nolensville Road, go through it and look on your RIGHT for the Sherwin-Williams paint store, across the street from a Mapco or some other gas station with a greenish colour theme.  It's in that little strip-mall area.  Parking is terrifying in that they block off random allees and so forth, but not unbearable.  You just have to be flexible, or able to defy physics.

That was a really long paragraph.

Sorry.  I'm spastic.  Sudden news, combined with sleeping from 3:00-5:30 AM leads to massive weirdness.

Whatever.

Gah!

well. its been a while, but now im back in Murfreesboro.  Florida was a blast, but im so glad to be back home.  it just doesnt feel right whenever im gone away from everybody.  but i guess that is how it is ganna be, within one year, that is exactly what is going to happen.  everybody is ganna be moving on, its not a bad thing, its just kind of sad.  but i guess thats reality. within this one week that ive been gone, it seemed like so much stuff happened back here in murfreesboro.  all this happened within one week. this year is ganna fly by, so im ganna make sure that i try to enjoy it as much as i can,  we cant let small or even big things come between us and our joy for each other.  its ganna be a good year, other than school starting in 13 days.  CRAP

I just took a Dayquil the size of my thumb in my latest onslaught against my mucus-infested throat.  I have been making progress, though.  Through rigorous orange juice, gatorade, and green tea procedures, my throat has come to about the level I was at yesterday morning (meaning I have no upper register and my speaking voice is gravel).  If I can just wake up in this state tomorrow, I'll be set for the evening.  Here's hoping!

 I went taylor guitar shopping today, but i didnt really expect to buy one.  However, i found a deal on one that i just couldnt resist so...


I have a Taylor Grand Symphony Guitar!!

once again. my world has been turned upside down.
by a boy.
i didn't sleep good last night.
and i have to work tonight.
so that'll be. not so good.
i don't know what to feel
or think. and i don't know
why i am going through this
again. i knew this was going to
happen. i knew it.

i just. i wanted things to
be different.

there's still a chance.
but i can't decide whether
it hurts more to hold on
or let go.

he's my bestfriend.
i can't just stop talking
to him.


i don't know.
it hurts.
and she won.
again.</3

So we've all been to killer parties.  We are high school students afterall.

But for me, the best parties have always happend to take place in my bedroom. ( no this is not a sexual statement).   Thats right.  206 Dill Ln, the room at the end of the hall.  with the purple satin bed spread and a bottle of something or other.  Whether its white zinfandel, skol, beer, tequilla, or bacardi.   I cant say how many times we've lived it up in that room.  Me, Christian, my sister, Matt Juan, Stacie, Kathryn, Josef, and i've prolly left some out.  we've all been there.. and we've all done that.  and we dont even have to leave the bedroom  . 

So last night Christian, K Souf, and I  topped them all.

those are only a few... the ones that aren't too embarrassing

I'm singing tomorrow night at a church.  This morning, my throat was so screwed up that I could barely breathe.  I should have figured this would happen.  So now I'm sucking down orange juice and avoiding speech as much as possible, hoping my throat will mend enough to allow me to sing tomorrow night.

i finally got a facebook.

Today, Decy and the girls left for Indonesia.  I went with them to the airport, but had to leave them at the curb ... our kilo wasn't authorized to park at the Luanda airport.  So many emotions. So much pain. So difficult to deal with over the last few days.  We did, however, have a little bit of closure ... one glimpse that we had made an impact ... however small it was.

Don't know if I mentioned it or not in a previous blog, but Decy recently designed a hash t-shirt that was "very Angolan" using their flag colors and one of her drawings of 3 Angolan women carrying baskets.  On the way to the airport, we passed a creek bed where hundreds of Angolans with colorful plastic buckets wash their clothes and take water back to their houses.  Today .... as we passed by ... Thasya saw one of the Angolans wearing Decy's hash t-shirt.  Don't know who they were. Don't know how they got it .... but part of us ... was there ... in that creek bed .....

The above pic is not intended to offend anyone ... it is merely Decy's creativity associated with what she saw and felt here in Angola.

Decy said her final goodbyes to most people yesterday, even one of the kilo drivers was crying.  Decy touched so many lives.  Decy made a difference to hundreds of people: Angolans, Portuguese, Brazilians, Colombians, Thai's, Malaysians, Indonesians, English, Bangladeshis, Indians, Pakistani's, Korean, Chinese,  French, Italian, Lebanese, American, Venezuelan, and many others ....  she will be sorely missed by all.

As for me, I still have 4 weeks of work here. I am nervous, however, as the item I am working on is very important to the company.  I am concerned that either my trip to Indonesia will be delayed ... or I will have to come back to Angola on a business trip basis.  I already miss my family ... and I want to be with them to help build our new life together in Indonesia.  I belong at Decy's side.

.... Stela, if you see this, thanks for meeting us at the airport ... I know it touched Decy and the girls very much ... me too.

ciao ciao

Well Today Was The Earlyist* Day Ever For Me This Summer I Got Up At 6:00 AM Ugh... Well On Monday I Have To Go To Court For The Last Time At Least I Hope So. Talk To Everyone Later.. Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

ccccccccccccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

i am leaving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

see you guys next week!!!!

HAHA YEAH SOO PRETTY SURE ii HAVE NO iiDEA WHAT ii AM DOiiNG ON THiiS BECAUSE ii DONT KNOW HOW TO WORK iiT... SO ii THiiNK SOMEONE SHOULD COME HELP ME!! PLEASE AND THANKS!!

&hearts;

MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUAHHHHHHHH

today on my nanny adventure we went to the zoo


it was fun





we saw lots of animals

and even managed to find one that would pose for a picture


so all in all it was a great day! i really enjoy being a nanny. i get to do fun things and say it is all for the kid, but secretly it is for me. we both benefit. good deal.

so yeah. i am exhausted though. 50 hours a week is difficult but i will get used to it. i do like it though. and i love the family i work for... they even took us out for dinner tonight. finally i have a job i really like!!! 3 jobs in like what? 3 months. it's about time.

i hope everyone has a good night and good weekend!

A-Z Survey


A - Available: Yeah.

A - Age: TWO. ZERO.

A - Annoyance: annoying people.


B - Bestest Friend[s]: Graham, Bryan, Ed, JB, and Ryan

B - Birthday: The second day of the sixth month of the one thousand, nine hundred, and eighty-sixth year of our lord, Anno Domini.


C - Crush: i'll never teeeeelllll...right whatever

C - Car: 02 Honda CR-V

C - Candy: M&M's/Kissables


D - Day or night: day

D - Dream Car: something fast. yeah.


E- Easiest person to talk to?: Anna

E- Eggs: Never


F - Favorite Month: June. Good month even without my birthday.

F - Favorite color(s): any darker blue

F - Favorite Memory: eh, i've got a few; chi-town, atl, prom, those kinds of things; oh, and hawaii


G - Gummy Bears or Worms: worms

G - Giver or taker: eh, either way


H - Hair Color: dark dark dark brown/black

H - Height: 6'0"

H - Happy: at the moment


I - Ice Cream: choc-oh-lot

I - Instrument: don't play one, but if I did? bass.


J - Jewelry: nil, except when i put on my hematite cross

J - Job: GTCom for now

J - Jail: just got out, fo'sho


K - Kids: not right now, come back later

K - Kickboxing or Karate: karate, but only if i can do flying hut-sit-yah kicks

K - Kindergarden: sea breeze elementary in jacksonville, and brown elementary in eastpoint, both florida


L - Longest Car Ride: somewhere between 8 and 9 hours, multiple times from murfreesboro to port st. joe


M - Milk Flavor: flavored milk? geez, i'll just go with regular, but chocolate works

M - Most missed person: grandmother

M - Movie: right now? Clerks 2


N - Number of Siblings: techincally, 1 stepbrother, 2 stepsisters, but the 2 stepsisters have 3 kids between them that i'm considered the stepbrother to.

N - Number of Tattoos: 15,000 don't you know?

N - Name: Clint


O - ONE WiSH: wishes are products of the overactive mind

O - One Phobia: rejection, as always

O - One regret: saying the wrong thing at the wrong time


P- Pet Peeves: i dunno

P- Part of your appearance you like best?: eyes, hair the way it's cut now

P- Part of your personality?: sense of humor


Q- Quote: "there's only one return okay? and it ain't of the king, it's of the jedi."

Q- Quick or Slow: uh...quick?


R - Reason to smile: life is pretty good

R - Reality TV Show: Idol, but right now i'm watching Rock Star: Supernova

R - Reason to cry: death


S - Song Last Heard: "Push" - matchbox twenty

S - Season: fall

S - Shoe: black pumas, as always



T - Time you woke up: about 8:45 ish

T - Time Now: 9:56 eastern daylight time

T - Time for bed: close to midnight


U - U love someone: horrible way to get another question for U, but whatever

U - Unpredictable?: you never know what i'll do next!


V - Vegetable you hate: asparagus

V - Vacation spot: NYC


W- Worst Habits: nailbiting

W- Where are you going to travel next?: possibly murfreesboro. maybe tampa again.

W- Weather right now: dark and warm



X - X-Rays: had ones on my chest and ankle


Y - Year you were born: 1986

Y - Year it is now: 2006

Y - Yellow: i came along, i wrote a song for you...and all the things you do...and it was called.


Z - Zoo Animal: koala bear infestation.

LORD, how can I forget?

Sometimes, we get numb......  As Christians, we often hear about the crucifixion; how Jesus died on the cross.  But have we forgotten the pain?  Has it become merely a story? I'm not about to write a long, descriptive blog re-painting the picture of what happened that day.  YOU know what Christ endured on Calvary.  But incase you have forgotten...this isn't just a story.  This is our Jesus, my Jesus. And I will not continue to snicker and spit on Him through the way I am living my life.  I do not want to become that person in the crowd who mocked  Jesus as He hung on that cross.  I want to BEHAVE.  I want to know that I was WORTH his sacrifice! Don't you?  Let's live like we remember....Lord, forgive for us for forgetting and becoming numb to your sacrifice.

Aloha In Christ,

Catelin

Well, I am sitting in Paul's room on the computer while Chris plays Super Smash Brothers. Later we are going to see a car show. What fun *sarcasim* Actually, I think it will be kinda cool.
I went to the eye doctor today. I still don't need glasses. That makes me happy. Chad is getting contacts now.
Wow, Chris Morgan is up here now. There is too much guy-ness up here.
Hmmm, I am in a wierd mood today. I can't quite figure it out.I just want to sit some where and not do or say anything. But I don't want to be alone.
I'm not happy but not unhappy. I'm gonna go sit by my boyfriend now. Even though I will probably get in the way of his game. Oh well.

---

Whither to waste In the hours it takes To feel sober...
Freedom today Will lead you to say That it's over...
Every day is the same or so we claim Cause of boredom...
So often we speak of changing each week But do so seldom...
In your eyes I can see all that you could be, But you're standing...
Sing the same old song, waiting to be pulled along like a lemming...
I hope one day we find it, just what we're looking for...

dO PPL post 10 pictures of themselves a day...? OY!

i didn't make volleyball! i'm very sad, i found out yesterday but now i'm okayi guess, BUT i can't think of one flippin reason to why i didn't, i mean, wen we had to run around the track i came in first, and i was the only one to beat our coaches in a race that allowed us to not have to run anymore, and when the main coach had us serve ten times... i got them all over and they wer all beautiful, i just don't get it, AND!!!! my old coach from last year (who's not coaching this year) called me just now and told me that he heard i didn't make it, and he sed he was shocked!, ugh! and i dono...... but i was just a lil surprised, and i reeli hope this duzn't sound selfish cuz i'm not wanting it to sound that way, i just at least thot that i wud make JV, but noooo, i didn't so i just thot i'd let you all kno! GIV ME COMFORTING WORDS! PLEASE!!!

i love you all,

~Chelsea!

so I am going caving!  Im excited!

:)

Ok so I put up a picture, just for fun.  The reason its a photo of a lion is because if you've ever watched grandma's boy, it's good for protection.  You can get past a dog, nobody f*$ks with a lion though.

"Sometimes you know where you should go before you know the way."   --SHeDAISY

"Remember, if your tool says Binford...GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!  Tools aren't supposed to talk!" --Tim Taylor

I like his eyeballs!

Ok.  Well, I am here with adam in Springfield Missouri.  We decided to go a little out of the way on the way to Texas and visit adam's old youth pastor.  But we are about to go.  Just thought I'd say hi.  Bye

so all the cool kids will be at

old fort park tonight

around 7

bring something (chips/cookies)

and/or

$2-3 for pizza

it's gonna rock out, hos.

if you're not doing anything tonight we're ((me and aimee and brian)) are going to have something of a night picnic at old fort. pizza will be provided, but please bring $2-$3 to pay aimee back. comment here or at aimee's site if you want to come. or call brian. i'll be at work and aimee is doing her lab thing.

life is funny.  a year ago i would not have imagined what this past month would hold.  i have hit every emotion possible - that is for sure.  let's recap:

-moved home for 2 weeks before the wedding.  nervous, scared, annoyed, frustrated, excited, anxious...

-GOT MARRIED.  finally!  the wedding week was insane... but as i look back on it (and watch the video so that i can actually remember it all!) i realize that i would not change a single thing.  it was amazing!  i have never felt so loved and cared for!  my friends and family surrounded me with such an awesome support!  i was reminded daily how blessed i am and i was simply in awe. 

my daddy.

ALL of my BEST friends.

and my HUSBAND!...

THEN we spent an amazing week in Saint Maarten... which was more relaxing than i could ever imagine!  and much needed!

the day we got back from our honeymoon, reality was bittersweet.  but WATCH HOW GOD WORKED...

on sunday, we flew into atlanta, where we had a small layover until flying to chicago.  atl is insane, and darin and i have had experience with taking bumps here, so we volunteered for one, knowing we would be kindly taken care of for it!  and we were!  we spent the night in an amazing hotel in atl and each received $400 flight vouchers.  PLUS we got food vouchers.  now, we are newly married, and fairly poor.  so knowing that we can have a free flight soon AND not having to spend money on food for a few days really helped!  that's blessing #1.

So then... monday morning, while we were wasting time before our flight that evening, my parents called to let me know that my grandpa had passed away.  now, this has been a long time coming... but that does not make it any easier.  i couldn't stand not being there with my family, so we headed to the airport to figure something out...

i thought we might be able to get our flight to chicago switched to indy so we could be there that afternoon.  Delta (the best airline ever) was perfectly willing to do that.  BUT our luggage was already in chicago and they couldn't get it to us.  so she was going to fly us to chicago and THEN to indy... but we were flying into chicago midway and delta only flies chicago to indy from chicago o-hare airport.  (confusing, but stay with me!)

SO.  she decided to keep us on our regular flight and put us out of o-hare for FREE the next morning!  so we flew home, unpacked, repacked, and flew out the next morning. - BLESSING #2!

the problem came when we needed to get to the airport the next morning... everyone seemed to be out of town here that week... so darin called our pastor to see if he could help us problem solve.  after several calls and possible solutions that fell through, he finally just called back and said "ok, don't worry about it!  there will be a limo service outside of your apartment at 6:30am tomorrow morning to take you to the airport.  it's all taken care of - thanks for watching our house a few weeks ago!"  ABSOLUTELY FREE!  big blessing #3!

you might think i would stop there, but i won't!  see, i haven't worked for a month, and darin 3 weeks, so money is really getting tight at this point - and God was going to majorly take care of us!  our original plan was to fly to TN the weekend after we got back to pick up my car and all of our stuff from the wedding, then drive back to IL.  well, with being in IN for the funeral, this wouldn't work.  instead, we rode home with my parents after the funeral and drove back.  we got to cancel our flights, which saved lots of money - and we never had to pay for gas!  BLESSINGS 4,5, and beyond!

but in real life, the funeral was a really hard thing to handle.  i'm not sure that it has all even hit me yet, but that was a huge shift of emotion to go through.  the funeral and visitation was absolutely wonderful - so many friends and family came... and, once again, i was reminded of how much those people mean to me.  i will miss my papaw greatly - and i'll still cry everytime i think about it.  but i am so thankful for the support i have found.  God placed himself in the center when I lost all control.  I can't even describe how blessed i feel.  there's no other words.

1.  I got a job.  Actually, I got 2 jobs.  I'll be a Sales Assistant at HGTV, and (if I don't quit) I'll be working part time (weekends) at Banana Republic!

2.  I'm going home this weekend!  I am so excited!  Not that I don't love it here, but HOME!  Hopefully I'll see some of you at church.

3.  I really love Jesus.  Not an update, but I just wanted you to know.        

Well, lately I've been putting poems on here and everything like that.  But today I haven't got one.  Sry just...nothing comes to mind.

yesterday the only thing i did was talk on the phone for about 12 hours it was like the phone was glued to my ear

it was the longest conversation i have ever had in my life

it wsa fun though and i enjoyed it

the only reason i'm posting is cause it's been 900 days exactly since i joined xanga. hit me up if your still out there. i still like xanga.

one more day. maybe i can speak some since.

oh ya, i was told something last night that really made me up set. man, some people just dont know their place.

piece

I AM HAVING MY 14TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT CHUCK E. CHEESE!!!! WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

**ALLIEMOE**

“Nevertheless's new record makes me a happy camper.  Even when I'm not camping.  The songs sound amazing, and they're well written.  Kudos to the band for having such a strong debut.”

- Matthew Thiessen (Relient K)

now that's awesome. found it in the "flicker ticker" today. and it excited me. so i had to share.

have a nice day.

 just a little chat room fun!

Danny: I can't wait to feel a rifle's touch again
Stephanie: but first
Holly: ahahahaha!
Stephanie: ur going to give me
Stephanie: my cd back
Danny: don't interupt my dream sequence
Milly: lol
Stephanie: then
Milly: gohs!
Milly: gosh*
Stephanie: give me my cd back
Danny: "and the clouds opened up
Stephanie: I WANT MY CD
Danny: and God placed a rifle in Danny's hands
Stephanie: lol
Stephanie: thats so corny
Danny: and he said, 'Spin, my son.'
Holly: i totally think i just dootied in my pants.
Danny: and Stephanie came from Hell
Danny: and she demanded her CD

Yesturday was my Moms birthday.

and i figured out i have lost my mp3.

my dad knows where it is.

no one else does.

he wont tell me where it is cause i am not responsible enough to have it if i have already lost it.

i said i havent lost it, its just somewhere in the house.

so yeah. we are leaving in like 2 days and i will have no music to listen to unless i want to bring a huge protable cd player since i can not find my mp3.

dang, this sucks.

Life could not possibly get any stranger.....

i am going to dougle lake tomorrow!!!!!
yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we are leave for a whole fucking week!!!!!!!!!!!
woot woot
-does a little dance-
hehehe
-jumps- me so happy

sad thing....
i have to clean.......
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...........
that makes me mad....
but justin is helping

                      megan

I turned 21 two days ago and I got to celebrate at Walt Disney World... amazing! Tonight my lovely Gray leaves to go back home and I will have exactly two weeks until I am at home. This summer has been amazing, but challenging... I can not wait for home... I miss it so much. God has definitely provided this summer... God is amazing.

there are some people in my life i would like to mention. G,G, and P.

    all of them are sisters, unmarried sisters. The two Gs has sacrificed themselves to God, and P still looking for one. But that is not the case to measure one's piety anyway. They are all great, having a kind of strain that could not be found in some others.


    P is a totally different life viewer, cause she knows best what is to be cherished in the life due to her experiences with so many disabled persons. that's why she could surrender something in a much more easily way to see that she is not the worthy one to own all she has now.
 

   G 1 and G 2 are the two ladies who has made up their minds to marry God, however, in a rather different way, both showing their value and love, and have become a great blessing to the ones around them.

   yeah, now the question remained is, are we ourselves have been a blessing to the people close to us? or, just day by day, eating, sleeping has occupied all of the time in our life? or even, sometimes, have been a burden or curse? just say to ourselves, and pray to God to help us, hoping we are the ones living in this world to constitute a  scenery rather than to destroy it.

So I wrote a new song tonight.  It's more of a standard praise and worship-type song than what I usually write.  I believe I'll be singing it at a Baptist church Sunday night, so keep that in your prayers.  Also, if you have any thoughts on the lyrics, please let me know:

Verse 1:
The mountains will sing
To the Lord of hosts
The oceans will roar to our God
The dead shall arise
The blind will use their eyes
The deaf will hear the praise of the Lamb.

Chorus:
Hosanna, hosanna
Holy Son of Judah
Hallelujah, Son of God
You're holy, You're awesome
You've saved us from darkness
Hallelujah, Son of God

Verse 2:
I lift up my hands
I lift up my voice
I lift up my heart to You, Lord
Repeat

[Chorus repeated as desired]

As his step son said, "A Gieft Observed is not an ordinary book. In a sense it is not a book at all; it is, rather, the passionate result of a brave man turning to face his agony and examine it in order that he might further understand what is required of us in living this life in which we have to expect the pain and sorrow of the loss of those whome we love. It is true to say that very few men could have written this book, and even truer to say that even fewer men would have written this book even if they could, fewer still would have published it even if they had written it."

    That is very true and for yal, this book helps a lot for any who feel a loss of any kind greatness or smallness. We all need help sometimes, no matter how big or small. Anything would help to understand and acknowledge how we feel ;or how to resolve ,or more rather help to soothe the situation or feeling to a barebility ( the ability to bare something, may have spelled it wrong if its not a word well its a new one lol.)

    "No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid,but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in thestomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.

    At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.

    There are moments, most unexpectedly, when something inside me tries to assure me that I don't really mind so much, not so very much, after all. Love is not the whole of a man's life. I was happy before I ever met H. I've plenty of what are called 'resources.' People get over these things. Come, I shan't do so badly. One is ashamed to listen to this voice but it seems for a little to be making out a good case. Then comes a sudden jab of red-hot memory — and all this 'commonsense' vanishes like an ant in the mouth of a furnace.

    On the rebound one passes into tears and pathos. Maudlin tears. I almost prefer the moments of agony. These are at least clean and honest. But the bath of self-pity, the wallow, the loathsome sticky-sweet pleasure of indulging it — that disgusts me. And even while I'm doing it I know it leads me to misrepresent H. herself. Give that mood its head and in a few minutes I shall have substituted for the real woman a mere doll to be blubbered over. Thank God the memory of her is still too strong (will it always be too strong?) to let me get away with it.

    For H. wasn't like that atall. Her mind was lithe and quick and muscular as a leopard. Passion, tenderness, and pain were all equally unable to disarm it. It scented the first whiff of cant or slush; then sprang, and knocked you over before you knew what was happening. How many bubbles of mine she pricked! I soon learned not to talk rot to her unless I did it for the sheer pleasure — and there's another red-hot jab — of being exposed and laughed at. I was never less silly than as H.'s lover.

    And no one ever told me about the laziness of grief. Except at my job — where the machine seems to run on much as usual — I loathe the slightest effort. Not only writing but even reading a letter is too much. Even shaving. What does it matter now whether my cheek is rough or smooth? They say an unhappy man wants distractions — something to take him out of himself. Only as a dog-tired man wants an extra blanket on a cold night; he'd rather lie there shivering than get up and find one. It's easy to see why the lonely become untidy, finally, dirty and disgusting.

    Meanwhile, where is God? This is one of the most disquieting symptoms. When you are happy, so happy that you have no sense of needing Him, so happy that you are tempted to feel His claims upon you as an interruption, if you remember yourself and turn to Him with gratitude and praise, you will be — or so it feels — welcomed with open arms. But go to Him when your need is desperate, when all other help is vain, and what do you find? A door slammed in your face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence. You may as well turn away. The longer you wait, the more emphatic the silence will become. There are no lights in thewindows. It might be an empty house. Was it ever inhabited? It seemed so once. And that seeming was as strong as this. What can this mean? Why is He so present a commander in our time of prosperity and so very absent a help in time of trouble?Not that I am (I think) in much danger of ceasing to believe in God. The real danger is of coming to believe such dreadful things about Him. The conclusion I dread is not 'So there's no God after all, ' but 'So this is what God's really like. Deceive yourself no longer.'

    Our elders submitted and said, 'Thy will be done.' How often had bitter resentment been stifled through sheer terror and an act of love — yes, in every sense, an act — put on to hide the operation?

    Of course it's easy enough to say that God seems absent at our greatest need because He "is absent — non-existent. But then why does He seem so present when, to put it quite frankly, we don't ask for Him?

    One thing, however, marriage has done for me. I can never again believe that religion is manufactured out of our unconscious, starved desires and is a substitute for sex. For those few years H. and I feasted on love, every mode of it — solemn and merry, romantic and realistic, sometimes as dramatic as a thunderstorm, sometimes as comfortable and unemphatic as putting on your soft slippers. No cranny of heart or body remained unsatisfied. If God were a substitute for love we ought to have lost all interest in Him. Who'd bother about substitutes when he has the thingitself? But that isn't what happens. We both knew we wanted something besides one another — quite a different kind of something, a quite different kind of want..."

"Senate Chiefs Plan to Resist Compromise on Energy Bill."

Do I even need to rant upon this?  Isn't that why we elected every last pinhead working on Capitol Hill?  To work things out so said things get signed into law?  Of COURSE they're not going to agree initially.  Why break with years of grand tradition?  But if anyone's going to make any progress on anything, there has to be some give and take.  Quid pro quo, just like Doctor Lecter says [and he seems vastly more intelligent than those 100//435//535 slobs, numeric value depending on whether we're discussing the parts or the whole].  Ugh.  Nerds and cads, the lot of them.  Anarchy and root beer for all.  S.O.B//Senate Office Building is such a telling acronym.

That's so lame.  Who actually PLANS not to compromise on something?  Aside from them, they're obviously bacteria in business suits.  That's like the court [any ol' court] saying "We'll bring your case to trial, but we're already planning to euthanise you."  Gee, your honour, how can I ever thank you?

And Israel is adding troops to the campaign they're not expanding.  Because, yuh-huh, that makes sense.  *WTF Moment*

Ugh.  Whatever.  When territory on the moon is finally up for development, I'm so buying the entire bloody thing and putting a laser force-field around it that will incinerate anything which does not have clearance to enter.  But I'd encourage them to try, just to have something to watch at dinner.  "Hmmm, who told Keira Knightley this was a resort?  Mwa, ha, ha.  Honey, where do we keep the Champagne?  Oh, no reason..."

Hmmmm, okay, Kelly shouldn't read the news in between dancing and sleep.  It disgrunts her and leads to long diatribes against anything breathing.

I shall discourse upon the state of salsa [as in, ensuing opportunities thereof tomorrownight] when the sun is up.

Bon soir!  [Ou "Bon matin," peut-etre.]

Well for any of you that didn't know my Great Grandmother Slate died monday of this week.......we went to Memphis today for the funeral.......I spent probably 10 hours in a car with my dad (whom I dislike) and my grandmother (whom is the worst back seat driver ever).........They had me drive the last 150 miles from Jackson home.......it was horrible just because I had to drive my grandmother's car which really isn't all that great and I had her telling me how to drive every 3 seconds.......but besides that I had a great time.....I got to see family that I haven't seen in about 10 years and some I hadn't seen in about 15 or 16 years........I got to see my Aunt Sanua and her family which I hadn't seen in about 8 or 9 years........I also got to see my Uncle David and his family......he's a great guy along with his wife and 6 kids.......and I got to see my Uncle Kenneth and his family.........which he has been in Washington DC for awhile and was working on cleaning up the aftermath of Katrina for 8 months making him gone for the past year almost........which I had dinner with all of them along with my grandmother and dad.......I had a great time today.......I was thinking about how I want my funeral and such to go and I decided I am just going to have a wake so that the great times I had after the funeral could be spread over a couple of days instead of a few hours........man I have got to say I have really missed that side of my family.....also I got to visit the graves of my great great great grandmother and grandfather....and my dad's dad or my grandfather......sad thing is I never met my grandfather on my dad's side because he died before my dad was 10......but all in all I had a great time.......I didn't expect something this good to come from someone in my family dying........

Well I've decided to give in to the world of online blogging.  I know my page looks rather blank right now, my apologies for that.  I have myspace as well, and if you would like to find me on myspace then by all means do it.  Myspace offers blogging as well, however some of my family have myspace and bug the shit out of me about anything and everything I put up there.  So I've decided to go into phusebox, where I'll shoot the breeze about anything and everything I want to.  Go easy on me guys, Im a rookie at this sort of thing.

Hey, can't kick the habit
Yeah, I got to have it
Yeah, I'm what they call a
Love addict, love addict

This is half of the chorus to the first song I ever legally downloaded from the internet.  ("Love Addict" by Family Force 5, From iTunes, about three days ago.)  It cracks me up.

You know what else cracks me up?  Grace Langeland.

"So what would you do if he refused to shave his beard?"

"I would love him for who he is... And then shave it off in the middle of the night."

Whooooooo.  Good times.

JROTC mini camp starts next week.  And according to Autumn, I need to come into school on Monday, not Tuesday like the other people.  Apparently Michael, Autumn, and I are special because of our hoity-toity positions.

Ah well.  Maybe it'll be good to get back into JROTC.

The strings that bind me to the clarinet section are making me lag behind in this race for greatness. And unfortunately, I have no other choice but to pull forward by myself.

A man has only so much strength.

Danny

You Kill Because It's Your Job.
You kill with honor, and finish quick collecting your pay and moving on. You are the quiet academic type, and respect means everything to you and you often grow bored of the everyday rutine you follow.
Personality: Shy, Intelligent, Quiet, Respectful
Weapon: Sword
Expression/Action: Sigh, or bow
Most Common Feeling: Boredom

Last night was yet another farewell, alas, this one was FOR a close friend of ours who is being relocated to Sakhalin Russia.  He and his wife (Dave and Janet Lofquist) are very good friends of ours.  We have been through a lot together both professionally and personally .. and we are hopeful to see them in Far East Asia.

Regarding us, today (Friday) is Decy's and the girls' last full day in Angola.  I know that Decy is not blogging right now .... its too painful.  Today will be a challenging day (with yet one more "tea" between Decy and some friends) .... and the four of us (Decy, Chely, Thasya, me) will bring it to a close by having dinner as a family at Decy's/my favorite restaurant ... Pintos.

It is only fitting that we dine at Pintos tonight .... birthdays, anniversaries, 20 yr company dinners, romance, hopes, dreams, and even disappointments ... were all was shared at Pintos over the last 4 1/2 years.

Tomorrow morning (Sat) a kilo will pick Decy and the girls up .... and so a very important chapter in their lives will end ... and a new one begins .... a new chapter that is only known to God at this time ... but will reveal itself with every sunrise ... please remember Decy and the girls in your prayers - - this transition/move is much more difficult than you can possibly imagine ...

Ciao ciao 

so, work has gone pretty well, and i am a little nervous/excited about school starting.   oh yeah, i accidentally hit my mailbox the other day and knocked it over. a small piece broke but it was easily repaired.  so other than that life goes on as normal.

ttfn

well no i didnt die, i just have no internet. but wes does and he so graciously let me use his. hes the best lol. but anyway, anytime anyone wants to hang out this week please call me cuz i dont work but 2morrow 7:30am-3:30pm then i dont work again til wednesday so holla at me people! i miss u all, is it jus me or can i not wait for school to start? life has taken some unexpected twists lately and im kinda confused about what God is wanting me to do in life at the moment so people please pray for me! thanks i love you all!

Moms squirmed uncomfortably...

... in fact she almost died.

 To put it lightly...

she was NOT thrilled....

because well...

i have crabs.

brent gave them to me...

and they are really cute!!!

meet Hermie and Shellie!

this is their home!

this is Shellie.

Come here Shellie! Isn't she so smart?

This is Hermie! He's so strong! See the pincher?

One day...
I just ask for one day
To be who I really am.

As much as the kindergarteners annoy me, I've been realizing that I protect them the same way a mother bear protects their cubs when they are scared. If I see tears that are coming from a truly frightened or hurt child ((and no, this is not always the case, most of the time isn't not)), this savage mother bear from within wants to rip to pieces what has caused the tears and gently comfort the cub in my care.

You know, I guess that's how God feels about us too.

This really is one of the best jobs to work at if you really want more insight as to how God feels about His children. Lauren wrote an entry about it too; I've seen it in a lot of instances between myself and the kids.

. . .and I miss you

Been far away for far too long

-nickelback

This I think has been about the hottest summer that I can ever remember. Work has been going good though and I only have 3 weeks left til I quit for school. But anyways til then it looks like I am working and hanging out with friends. Give me a call or something if you want to hang out anytime.

For those of you who don't know, I'm extremely opinionated. So, pretty much everything matters to me, and this inclides politics. Unfortunately, I just don't agree with a lot of politicians. So it's very frustrating for me. I mean honestly, the local government affects me more than the national government, so who's in office is really important. I didn't vote in the last local election, and that kills me inside. So I want to vote this time around. I was just looking at the local election guide on dnj.com and it was frustrating for me because most of these guys are pretty old and experienced in politics so I really have no clue what they're talking about.

I mean, I'm a pretty intelligent college student - I'm not a moron. So why am I not understanding what I'm reading? And how come the Republican guy running for county mayor has a commerical about low taxes yet according to the DNJ, he wants the property taxes to be raised? What sense does that make? I don't think there ought to be a raise in property taxes unless there is going to be a major decrease in housing costs. So do I go for him, or Shacklett? Because I sure don't know what Shacklett wants to do either. I just know he isn't a liberal (sorry Kelly and Clint and whoever else that may affect). And I am also mega frustrated because my two choices for county commissioner in my district (actually, I'll be voting for my old district, not my new district, which also frustrates the crud out of me!) is a liberal Independent and a Democrat. Well that's just great. So yes... I digress...

Read my entry from yesterday if you haven't already and you like a good story...

And lastly... if you want to see my music video, I have it up online, but I don't want to announce it to the whole world (I have it up to where only I can see it unless I give you a direct link to it) so leave me a comment if you're interested and I'll message you the link. I may put the link up on my Facebook as well... yeah I'll do that so you can check there. Unfortunately, the video doesn't look as good online as it does on CD and DVD, so yeah... keep that it mind if you watch it. Graham gave it two thumbs up though.

FUCK YEAH!!! I'M GOING.

so over the course of the week i spent tucked away in the middle of nowhere, tn, with a bunch of other memphis freshmen i have discovered a few very important things:

1. the word "hungry" does not exist in their dialect. if you are in need of food, you are "HON-gray." always.

2. if you see a group of black people running . . . you should probably run, too.

3. my grammar skills are worthless against their sheer numbers. after only one week i sound different. imagine a semester. o_O

i also mastered several dance moves, even progressing far enough in my skills to be allowed to join a group of dancing black people.

i am going to be sooooo ghetto . . .

The fair last night was pretty fun. Alex puked on himself lol it was pretty sick. But yeah, i really needed to get out of my house for a change!!! I love my friends...they are definately God-given. Well, i'll be working 8 hour shifts the next 3 days, which is basically a big pile of SUCK!!!! But oh well. Come by the church anytime after 2:00, and i'll be there. Anyway, g2g to work...so...HOLLA!!!!! 7 DAAAAAAAAAYS...
~Gareesha

That was the best most amazing concert i've ever been to!!!