It's been a while!

As I sit down to write, I really have NO idea what I'm going to say. Does anyone check this anymore?? Haha. Anyway, let's see.......

The things I have been learning this semester so far are:

Forgiveness- while learning how to accept His forgiveness, He is giving me hands on experiences by showing me how to forgive others
Grace- how unbelievable undeserving I am of this, but how willingly He freely gives it
Patience- even when it is so hard, waiting on Him and His timing is far better than trying to do it myself, it's gonna be worth it
Trust- He is a provider!!!!! He loves to take care of His children!

On a much more serious note......due to lack of funds, I ate entire box of macaroni and cheese myself last night for dinner. Mmmmm.....

Love

Love is the fabric that enfolds the body and provides warmth and comfort. This blanket of love protects against the coldness of the world and insulates from the blustery winds of hate. Its fabric is soft yet strong, and there is great beauty in its many colors and intricate patterns. It is meant to be shared, for in the sharing it covers sin and envelops all who want to know the blessings that it alone can give.
This covering of love is large enough to include all who desire its consolation yet small enough to accommodate each one personally and abundantly. To be enfolded in this blanket is to experience acceptance and healing. It neither binds not constricts, and amazingly permits those encompassed within its folds to move in freedom.
This blanket of love cannot be bought, but it is freely bestowed by the heavenly Weaver and its durability has stood the test of the ages. It is the one and only blanket that is needed for life. Without it the soul will grow cold and hard, and all that is accomplished will ultimately profit nothing. With it the soul will experience the intensity and tenderness of God's love and will ultimately be filled with the fullness of God. This love is the greatest of all virtues: it is transfomring, it is powerful, and it never fails.

-- by Cynthia Heald in "Becoming a Woman Who Loves"

Battle Wounds

Well, as many of you know, this Saturday several of us played softball at Rotary Park. I was placed in right field, which seems to have become my position due to the lack of action. This night, however, was different. VERY different. On the second play of the game, a foul ball was hit and I decided to be a hero (as Kels would put it) and try to catch the ball. So, I'm running as hard as I can (which isn't very hard), keeping my eye on the ball (which is the first rule of baseball.....or something), when all of a sudden, a pole got in my way! I ran smack into that thing, full force, bounced back about three feet, falling to the ground. Talk about humiliating. People were asking me which part hit first, but honestly, I think it was full body contact. I have a large scratch and about five bruises in a line along my left thigh, a HUGE bruise on my left upper arm, and my teeth.....well, my teeth luckily were NOT knocked out, however, some of the paint from the pole is now engrained on there and I don't know how to get it off! If you have any ideas, please let me know!! Here is a picture of my bruise, I tried to get one of my teeth, but it wouldn't turn out very well. Guess you'll just have to see my grill in person!

A Googled Song

Okay, I actually felt quite a bit of pressure trying to find song lyrics for Ryan. Funny? Serious? Random? What to choose? So I just decided to google funny songs, and found this. Since the meaning behind songs has also been requested, please feel free to comment about how this song makes you feel. For me, it made me feel.....slightly disturbed. ENJOY! (personally verse 2 is my favorite!)

State Fair Woman
by Larry Weaver

I was walking by myself all around the state fair
Smells of cotton candy and corn dogs drifted through the air
I was just looking for fun, not looking for romance
But I saw a fine young lady and I had to take a chance

She worked there at that booth where they try and guess your weight.
So I reached down for my wallet and stepped on up to the plate
One sixty was her guess and she was mighty near.
If I hadn’t eaten those turkey legs, and that elephant ear

She yelled, “We got a winner, now come pick your prize”
But I’d found just what I wanted when I gazed into her eyes
The moonlight reflected off the gold in her front tooth
And guided me to love right by that polish sausage booth.

She’s my state fair woman, she’s my carny queen
She had one lazy eye, but most all of her teeth.
She’s my state fair woman, she’s my carny girl
She took me for a ride on that love Tilt a Whirl.

She wore snakeskin cowboy boots and a denim mini-skirt
With cigarettes rolled in the sleeve of her Dixie Chicks t-shirt
She stood about 5 foot three, or six feet if you count her bangs
We started walking round the fair and saw some crazy thangs:

A tiny horse, a giant pig, man this was one wild date.
A huge Taco Bell dog and a Travis Tritt license plate
As we strolled down the midway my heart was filled with pride
Bought a big ol’ roll of tickets, just hoping for a ride

She’s my state fair woman, she’s my carny queen
She had one lazy eye, but most all of her teeth.
She’s my state fair woman, she’s my carny girl
She took me for a ride on that love Tilt a Whirl.

I asked if she would be my wife
She said “How can I leave this carny life?
You see, the bearded lady is my mother.
And the strongman is my daddy and my brother.”

She’s my state fair woman, she’s my carny queen
She had one lazy eye, but most all of her teeth.
She’s my state fair woman, she’s my carny girl
She took me for a ride on that love Tilt a Whirl.

Being Tall

At the request of Amy Van Dyck, I am going to post about what it's like to be tall.

At the height of 5'8" (fluctuating about a half an inch from time to time), I have been taller than most for much of my life. I remember at one point my freshmen year of college, I was with a group of girlfriends, and as we got on the elevator I realized that I was an entire head taller than every single one of them.

Positives for being tall:
1) being able to reach high places, it makes me feel useful
2) being able to see over people in a large crowd
3) being asked if I play basketball, makes me feel athletic
4) being the same height as the typical Miss America

Negatives for being tall:
1) not being able to wear heels
2) always being put in the back in pictures
3) seeming like you wear scandalously short shorts, but in reality, they are no shorter on me than say, my sisters, they just look shorter because my legs are twice as long as theirs
4) being that person that blocks the view of the guy/girl behind you

Those are some of the pros and cons. All in all, it's a wonderful experience being tall. It's not going to change or anything, so I guess I'll just have to accept it. And as far as the bridesmaids dresses go, Amy, you'd better believe I'm wearing heels with that dress!! I don't care if I'm a foot taller than every guy there! Ha, it's gonna be awesome! I just hope I can wear them, I'm a little out of practice.....

An update

Every day I try to think of something fun to blog about, and either there isn't anything exciting that happens in my day worthy of being blogged about, or something does happen, I just can't remember what it is by the time I get to computer, which is HIGHLY likely. So, if any of you would like to give me a topic to post about, maybe I can run with that for a little while. But for now, I leave you with this random post obout nothingness! And it's back to my 2 page paper which has now taken me......an hour to write, and counting!

Praise You in this Storm - Casting Crowns

I was sure by now

That You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say

and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear

You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the Dad

Who gives and takes away

I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

Every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the Dad

Who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Dad

The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Who I am Hates Who I've Been -- Relient K

I watched the proverbial sunrise

coming up over the Pacific and

you might think I'm losing my mind,

but I will shy away from the specifics...

'cause I don't want you to know where I am

'cause then you'll see my heart

in the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

Stop right there.

That's exactly where I lost it.

See that line. Well I never should have crossed it.

Stop right there. Well I never should have said

that it's the very moment thatI wish that I could take back.

I'm sorry for the person I became.

I'm sorry that it took so long for me to change.

I'm ready to try and never become that way again

'cause who I am hates who I've been.

Who I am hates who I've been.

I talk to absolutely no one.

Couldn't keep to myself enough.

And the things bottled inside have finally begun

to create so much pressure that I'll soon blow up.

I heard the reverberating footsteps

Sinking up to the beating of my heart,

and I was positive that unless I got myself together,

I would watch me fall apart.

And I can't let that happen again

'cause then you'll see my heart

in the saddest state it's ever been.

This is no place to try and live my life.

Who I am hates who I've been

and who I am will take the second chance you gave me.

Who I am hates who I've been

'cause who I've been only ever made me...

So sorry for the person I became.

So sorry that it took so long for me to change.

I'm ready to try and never become that way again

'cause who I am hates who I've been.

Who I am hates who I've been.