On the Bright Side

Sometimes, all I seem to think about is the depressing side of things, so maybe I should make a list (I do really like, or "lunch" lists) of happy things:

1. I have really great friends that are there for me and can tell when things aren't totally right and that always try to help
2. I have a job and even though most of the time, I am tired and don't really want to go to work, I do enjoy the residents. I mean where else can you find someone that likes onions on her cottage cheese and someone who always wants toast (and I know what kind of bread she likes better)
3. My grades in high school are pretty good (not counting Senior Math, that's not going so well), so I actually don't have that bad of GPA, for only having 5 high school classes
4. I have a kitten on my lap right now and she is so adorable
5. I have a mother who loves and supports me and a brother who still makes me laugh
6. I am alive and even though I am dying, I have a Savior who makes dying actually a happy thing
   

College Choices are Making Me Have an Inability to Breath

It was a weird thing that happened yesterday. I was driving home from Aberdeen with my mother (we had just taken Kyle back to college) and so my mother and I were talking about what I am going to do for college. Then I had a really hard time breathing. It felt like my throat was closing up. It was really creepy. That plus I was starting to cry probably made for not ideal driving conditions. But why such not happy reactions when talking about my college plans? Because I have no idea what I am going to do for sure.

I preached the morning service yesterday. I can't say that I actually did that well. After all, I was preaching on death and one congregation member couldn't stop laughing. Anyway, it wasn't the best job I have ever done. But, it is over now.

I woke up late this morning and had a really horrible dream. Like, I woke up and tears were still coming down my face. That's the kind of horrible it was.

Anyway, I should go get ready for school, because apparently being on time is an important thing.

Death and Ice Cream Trucks

I figured out how to wake up when my alarm goes off, instead of my normal sleeping a half hour past my alarm. All I need to do is just accidentally shut my kitten in my room for the entire night. That's sad that I didn't realize she was in my room until 6:00, but I am sure most of the night she was just sleeping under my bed. She got shots yesterday and that really wore her out. Of course, I think she has more energy now, because she's currently playing with my headphones.

I had a weird dream last night. Not that I am going to tell you all about it, but I will say that it involved a prayer meeting and an ice cream truck that turned into an ice cream cart when it came closer. (And the ice cream was free, but I was encouraged to get a $5 donation to some couple... which may mean that I have been involved in too many fundraisers in my day that I am subconsciously dreaming about this.)

Anyway, right now, I will have to go get ready for the day, but I am slowly getting my sermon together, so I have a question for you all:

What do you know about death?

(P.S. That reminds me of John's little song in the tune of Iron Man and it goes like, "I am the ice cream man, running over little kids with my van." Sorry, I just thought of that. Answer my question now.)

Missing Trailer

Missing Trailer from Chase Johnson on Vimeo.

I Vote Yes to Skirts

"Let it be known, far and wide- You are completely and utterly free to wear skirts! I give you full permission to be as feminine and attractive as you like! [...] There’s something about them, that delightful thrill you get when it’s swishing around your calves, or when the man nearby recognizes the fact that you are a lady and kindly opens the door for you, or when you feel so flattered by it’s graceful lines…it’s always fitting, always appropriate." -Christa Taylor [source]

I love skirts and I totally find it tragic that no one seems to just wear skirts casually. I did stats and was a student manager for the girls' basketball team last year just so I could dress up for school. (You see, you dress up on game days.) I absolutely hate basketball and don't really enjoy doing the stats, but getting to dress up made it all worth it. Now, this year, since you couldn't possibly pay me enough to do stats again, I won't have a reason to dress up. However, I really am a fan of skirts. They make me super happy. And so, I vote yes... to skirts.

I Make Decisions Like a Donkey Would

I can't make decisions. In fact, I am so bad, that I am a lot like a donkey.

"A hungry donkey approaches a barn one day looking for hay and discovers two haystacks of identical size at the two opposite ends of the barn. The donkey stands in the middle of the barn between the two haystacks, not knowing which to select. Hours go by, but he still can't make up his mind. Unable to decide, the donkey eventually dies of starvation." -[source]

I did learn about this donkey thing in Biology, which is why, I enjoy that class, even though I have never actually done well in science ever.

Speaking of that class today, it is Homecoming and so today is Mix-Match Day and I have to go to the college today looking like a total retard in mix-matched clothes.

Not Even Getting a New Purse Would Make Things Better

I am not talented and I am not popular. But, let me go into detail.

I am not talented. My brother is amazing, he made a totally kickin' yearbook and there's no way that I could ever match his mad skills. He is just way better at that kind of stuff. Of course, I choose to be in journalism the year after him, so I could never possibly match his greatness. That just makes me realize that I am not that great of writer (so why would I go into Mass Communications? Obviously it'd be something I would be no good at). Seriously, I have no original thoughts. The only good short story that I have ever written I was given the idea by a friend and I just googled it and now realized how incredibly more pathetic I am, because I have been thinking sock gnomes are a new thing and apparently everyone else has seemed to know about them already. And, and, and. MNU doesn't want me. Not that a college should really be like begging people to come there, but I don't know what I am going to do. Jeremy really seems to be the only one that thinks I am at all talented. And I enjoy preaching, but I am not really extremely talented when it comes to that. I mean, again, I don't really have very many orginial ideas. I am not very creative. And by not very, I mean not at all.

I am not popular. Not that popularity in high school matters a whole bunch in the grand scheme of things, but I am not populary. I don't drive a cool car. I don't have pretty hair. I know it doesn't matter and I wasn't thinking that I was going to (which explains why I didn't even vote for myself), but I didn't get on the homecoming court. And who cares really? I don't really like any underclassmen (there are some I like, so if you are reading this, don't worry, you're one of my friends), so why should they like me? Anyway, I am so not cool. I don't know how to talk to people. I am quiet, but I hate being quiet, but I don't ever know what to say to be not quiet and so everyone thinks that I am quiet all the time. Which really isn't true, I mean, just look how I ramble on and on here, I am sure I could ramble like this in person, just try me sometime when I am really angry or on the brink of depression, like I am now. And why am I posting this? Honestly, who cares? Who cares what is going on with me? I am not popular enough for anyone to care.

And I do not text too much.

Man, when it rains, it pours.

I've Only Been a High School Senior for a Month

or

Olivet decided to throw a wrench into my college making decisions. My mind was already made up, until I realized that my mind shouldn't already be made up and I should keep my options open. And at first I was like, "This scholarship isn't a sure thing." My mom looked at me and said, "Yes, it is." How come Olivet wants me when MNU doesn't really seem to care at all?

Old People Make Me Happy

I don't really take care of my computer. Seriously, I haven't ran a scan in like over 30 days. (Of course I would not be surprised if by over 30 days that it is actually over 60 days.) So my brother, Kyle, came home this weekend and looked at my computer and said, "You really don't care about your computer at all." But, my dear friends, just because I apparently don't care about my computer does not mean that I do not care about my blog, because even though I know I don't have many readers, building a community does not happen unless there is a little work put into it. Or something. Is a blog really a community? How about we make it one.

Working at the nursing home, I have learned that I really do enjoy old people. There are times when I really don't want to go into work (for whatever reason: I am tired, I won't be able to see someone, I would rather be not working), but I walk in, fill the pitchers with ice and water and go out into the main dining room, and put a smile on my face. Not because I am happy about being there, but because no elderly person wants to look at an unhappy teenager. (How do I know this? Well, there have been times that I have been told, "Be happy you're cleaning up and not sitting at this table," while there were two people besides her still at the table and "You're so lucky you are still able to work" are both kind of signs that being happy is how they would rather see me. And of course, there's the obvious that no one would prefer an unhappy person.) So eventually, my forced smile becomes a real smile and then I actually become happy. Of course, I am sure not all the nurses or CNAs would be as happy, but still. I work in dietary and it makes me a little happier. Or at least it makes my feelings genuine.

This Blog Will Make Me Late for School

My mother just told me that Kyle and I need to learn to be more politically correct. And so apparently me responding by saying, "Native Americans" wasn't what she was looking for. You see, my mother is going to pick up Kyle from college and she knows that he won't say he has been missing her (which, according to my mother, the politically correct term is "I missed you, Mom"). Kyle is my brother, by the way. Also, since I am talking about what to say, it is apparently not a smart response to say to someone who is talking about how they look forward to the end result, "So, you stop at red lights a block too soon, too?" Foot in mouth, goes like this.

I really shouldn't be posting a blog. I really should be getting ready. You see, normally in the morning, I wake up with plenty of time to get done and then I eat breakfast and take my sweet time drinking my coffee, so in the end, I always end up rushing around. And then I make it to school, just in time. And so my non-routine has become my routine.

Bowling started last night. I didn't do that well. Hopefully I did well enough to at least make a 97 or so average, of course, I didn't stay last night to find out how I did, because I was getting to the point where I was too tired to do anything but say, "I'm tired" over and over. (P.S. My average was 96.)

Yesterday wasn't a bad day, though. Underclassmen weren't all being total jerks. Some kid told me to have a nice day, so when he later asked me for a Peach-O, I was like, sure, why not? And then I was walking in the hallway and some kid ran into the side of me, which caused my calculator to drop on the floor and the kid picked it up. And not that Shamee is underclassmen, because she's not, but she also told me that I was cute. I also got hit in the side with a ball in P.E., which kinda hurt and caused a giant red spot to appear on my side, at least Mr. T was like, "Anna, you get an A for the day." Yes, Anna. Because even thought Mr. T has known me for like a long time, he is apparently too old to remember that my name is Annie.

I have more to say, but I really don't like being late.

Making Headlines

Go here to watch the video.

ELLENDALE, N.D. - The 12 youth and adults from the Church of the Nazarene in Ellendale, N.D., didn't exactly get what they expected on a recent trip to South Africa and Swaziland.

"We were ready for huts and dirt floors," said 19-year-old Cole Adema, of Barnard. "But it wasn't really like that."

The group went on the 10-day trip to Richards Bay, South Africa and Manzini-Swaziland in July. In South Africa, the group ministered to a church, and in Swaziland, they worked with children at a school. They sang, delivered messages of hope and faith and learned lessons along the way.

While the countries' development surprised the group, what was learned on the trip didn't.

"My hopes for the trip was that the kids would be exposed to something much bigger than they are," said Youth Pastor Jeremy Johnston. "And they were."

The group was made up of five adults - Johnston, the Rev. Tim Brown, Rick and Laura Adema and Renae Martin - and seven youth - 17-year-old Krista Martin, 15-year-old Levi Adema, Cole Adema, 17-year-old Annie Kee, 15-year-old Erika Ketterling, 19-year-old Rebecca Dalstein and 16-year-old John Dalstein.

Johnston said he approached the youth group about going over to serve about two years ago. But the planning began extensively about a year ago. More than $30,000 was needed for the group to go, and each person was responsible for his or her share.

Money was raised through donations, fundraisers and even baby-sitting jobs, Brown said. The group also took extra money to give to the church they ministered at in South Africa and to the school in Swaziland.

While in South Africa, they stayed with host families, and in Swaziland, they stayed at hotels. The church they served at was the same one the Ellendale church helped in 1994. That year, a group went to South Africa to put a roof on the church. Brown was part of the original group.

"It's really cool to go back and see how they've grown," he said. "Once you build a church there, it fills up in six months."

The church is now 150 to 200 people strong, and they're hoping to expand, Brown said.

He said he was proud of the youth who went on the trip. They prepared lessons well in advance, played and sang music and ministered to the people of South Africa and Swaziland.

While Cole Adema said the entire trip was life-changing, he said it's the people of the countries that he'll remember the most.

"It's like we knew them all of our lives," he said. "It makes you realize that the body of Christ isn't just here; it's everywhere."

Levi Adema, Cole's brother, said the people were also his favorite part of the trip.

"I learned that I have another family out there that I didn't even know I had," he said. "Africans have pretty much close to the best hospitality I've ever seen."

I'm a Slacker

Raise your hand if you think I should blog more.

Death and Taxes and the Like, or Really, Just Death

I am preaching on September 28th. I think I am preaching in the morning and Jeremy is preaching in the evening (for two reasons: one, I am probably working in the evening and two, Jeremy has a class that he is taking and won't be back until the 27th, so even though I feel that Jeremy, who is actually a pastor, should get more chances to speak in the church, I am still doing the morning service). I was talking to Jeremy last night and I was like, "So I'm going to preach about death. Is that depressing?" He said it wasn't, because it happens to everyone. Of course, it also probably isn't normal for a seventeen-year-old to be preaching about death.

So far, here is what I know about death:
1. Ten out of ten people die.
2. When you take biology with Mr. Schlecht, he will tell you about how both of his parents died.
3. Nursing homes aren't that bad, even if you go there to wait to die.
4. To live is Christ and to die is gain.
5. You don't die by getting your foot stuck on a scaffolding (even though at 8 or so, you think you will die).
6. I know more about death than I thought I did.

Monkey Gland Rump

You guys! You'll never guess what happened?

I stopped posting for several days.

I know, you're like "what?!"

Oh, you're not like that.

You're really like, "Yeah, I can see that, so stop being lame and post something."

Well, fine. I will post something.

I know, my post satisfies your craving just about has much as Monkey Gland Rump. I guess you will have to come back tomorrow. I am tired and am not able to think full thoughts or sentences.