Sometimes You Need to be Reminded

For a change, my mother and I went to church in Aberdeen today. I think that everyone who has gone to the same church Sunday every Sunday should do this every now and then. Not only because it is fun to leave your comfort zone (and no, I really do not see this as abandoning your church family, because it is just for one Sunday), but because it reminds you what every visitor that comes to your church as an outsider feels like. Where do I sit? What should I do with my coat? Will anyone welcome me? What is the order of their service? Should I stay after and find someone to talk to? What if no one talks to me? I love it. I love not knowing exactly where to sit and what to say and who to say it to. It's also quite fun to see different pastor's styles. Pastor Dav is a very cool guy. He has a fire for God and even though he paces throughout his sermon, he preaches with a zest for the Gospel. It is encouraging to walk into a church with which you are unfamiliar and feel the presence of God and welcoming that comes with knowing you are surrounded by the body of Christ.

When we went on a mission trip to South Africa and Swaziland, the main thing I learned is that the body of Christ is not separated by borders of countries or continents. It is an amazing feeling to go somewhere you have never been and find something in common with those around you because you have a common thread: Christ. You don't just get that feeling with the use of your passport, but you can just hop in the car and go to a church you haven't been to before. When you are a member of the Body of Christ, you are never without family.

We Voted on Our Senior Class Motto

They're Pretty Funny

I Respect Andrew Bird's Song Titles, but His Music Makes Me Want to Throw Something

We do speeches every Friday for Applied Communications. Last Friday, I had to do my speech on what my pet peeves are. I said my pet peeves are whenever anyone (including myself) is late, when people use incorrectly, and whenever I can't find something (dispute my being disorganized). However, I think I just discovered two more pet peeves today.

First of all, it really bothers me when people talk about someone else's business. There is someone who I know who has made some mistakes and is now in well, a bad situation. However, there is no reason anyone should need to talk about her, especially not by name. I mean, I sort of understand why people in church want to talk about it. They think they are just spreading the word so that people can pray and let her know that we support her. However, I really just see it as people spreading rumors and giving everyone a chance to talk about other people's problems. I do think that I need to pray, but I do not think I need to go around telling everyone about it. I really don't need to go around talking about it. It's not any of business. It's not any of your business either. So don't talk about it.

Second of all, I don't appreciate people lying to me. Especially about something that nobody really cares about and isn't even a big deal. Why would you make a big deal about it? Why bothering lying? Lying isn't okay. It makes me mad because it isn't something that you need to lie about. The purpose of their lying was because people kept asking about it so they wanted to see how long they could keep a secret. However, if they had just answered people honestly, then people wouldn't have kept bothering them about it. So, really, it is just a case where they want to draw attention to themselves and want everyone to pay attention to their stupid issues. I just was annoyed that I was lied to for three weeks. And then when I was told the truth, she said, "You are the third privileged one to find out." When really, she should have said, "You are the third privileged one that I am telling that I have been lying to you for three weeks, because I want everything to be all about me."

Can you tell I am a little bit bitter and angry at people? Well, I am. But, here's what I am going to do:

I am going to pray. Recently, I have relearned the importance of prayer. So, instead of punching a wall (which is what I really want to do), I am going to pray for those who annoy me and for those who don't know when to be honest/keep their mouths shut.

I'm Living to Shine On

I spoke in youth group tonight. As far as some people's standards it probably wasn't that good. I didn't really have notes besides two things I read off of pieces of paper. I didn't really have any organized plans or thoughts, so it was really just God's message tonight. I noticed something about myself while I was speaking, even when I am nervous, there are times when my voice is still calm and confident, which is totally misleading because I was freaking out. I really like having plans and being prepared. However, sometimes God doesn't call you to be planned or prepared, sometimes God just calls you to follow His lead.

Tomorrow I am having coffee with Pastor. My mother wasn't invited because he thinks my mother does all the talking in a conversation between him, my mother, and me. Which isn't really true, but I can see why people think that. Anyway, my mother isn't invited. So, Pastor will probably ask me how I am doing. It's weird when people ask you how you are doing because you always seem to give the obvious answer. I don't know why, maybe because you don't want people to know you aren't okay or you don't really want to explain why you aren't okay. Usually I am the latter. It's not that I am not okay, I just don't have a joy.

Yeah, this is just another one of those posts that don't tell you much besides that I am alive.

Here's some music to celebrate my life:

House of Heroes "In the Valley of the Dying Sun" from Endeavor Media Group on Vimeo.

Didn't You Know This About Me

Here's something I bet you didn't know about me. When I was a baby (yes, I was probably only one or two years old), I met a soap star. Eric Braeden plays Victor Newman on the Young and the Restless, in case you didn't know. During Aberdeen's grand opening of Target, Eric Braeden was there to draw people in, I suppose. At any rate, while my mom and Kyle were in an aisle looking for Legos, my dad (who was carrying me) noticed a large group of females screaming or something, so he went to see what all the excited was. Dad met Victor Newman and Victor said that I was a cute baby. I bet not everyone can say that Victor Newman said they were cute when they were a baby.

Random or Not, I Like Lists

1. I absolutely love rainy days. Sometimes rain is almost better than sunshine. (However, snow is not better than anything.)

2. I have had my head stapled. Yeah, that's what I get for passing out and hitting my head on the shower frame (I even put a hole in the wall of my bathroom).

3. The only card game that I really know how to play is Go Fish (well, Uno, too, but that doesn't really count). No, I have never played solitaire and I don't have any clue how to play.

4. I am have been to four proms (two my freshman year and one my sophomore and junior year), but I am not planning on going to my senior prom. (And it's not because I can't find someone to go with. It's actually just because I don't really want to go.)

5. I got a new kitten over the summer, but not because I wanted a kitten. Actually, she was left in my backyard by her mother. She had a broken hip and a cracked pelvis. She has healed pretty well, even though she does have a funny walk. Her name is Olive and she is definitely a part of my family. And I am certain our other cat thinks we just got Olive so she would have someone to play with.

6. I really like shoes. And I probably have way more than I really need.

7. I tried snowboarding for the first time last month and it was not successful. Even so, I am all for trying new things. If I get a good story out of it, it was worth it.

8. I know how to change a tire on my car because Cole taught me. So now I am able to avoid that whole being-stranded-on-the-side-of-the-road-because-I-don't-know-how-to-change-a-tire-and-some-creeper-tries-to-come-help-me situation.

9. My favorite band is Relient K, even though the first time I heard their music, I couldn't stand it. (Anberlin is my second favorite, but I liked their music the first time I heard it.)

10. I don't like most breakfast foods. Even though I eat cereal in the morning, I don't like it. I don't really like eggs, waffles or pancakes, but I will still eat them. I even ordered pancakes at IHOP, so I probably shouldn't say that I don't go out of my way to eat them.

11. I have my local minister's license through the Church of the Nazarene and I have preached in my church several times. I have also preached in South Africa.

12.I used to be in ballet when I was little and I honestly wish my mother kept me in ballet and so somehow I wouldn't be as ungraceful as I am today.

13. I love writing, because it's debatable whether or not I am any good at it.

14. I absolutely hate being late, even though I always rush around before I go anywhere. If I am not five minutes early, I am late and I hate that.

15. I drink coffee every morning, but if you ask my mother, she would tell you that I put too much creamer in it for it to still be considered coffee. Still, my mornings aren't the same without coffee.

16. My favorite smell in the whole world is the smell of newspapers. Seriously, when I went on a tour of the Aberdeen American News the printing room was my favorite because it smelled so delightful.

17. I don't really like reading, but there are so many books that I would like to have read that I force myself to read a book.

18. The only reason I don't buy chocolate ice cream to eat at home is because then my pets wouldn't be able to lick out the bowl. Even though chocolate ice cream is my favorite.

19. I am addicted to Peach-Os. They are my favorite candy and I could never get sick of them.

20. I really like wearing skirts and dresses. I like dressing up. I wish I had a reason to more often.

21. I am planning on double majoring at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Ministry and Mass Communications.

22. With the college classes I have taken/am taking at TBC, I will graduate with 20 colllege credits.

23. I absolutely love flying in airplanes, even though I am terrified of heights. Also something odd, on one of the flights during the South Africa trip, I was afraid that I would like develop anxiety attacks while in the air and then there would be nothing anyone could do to help me. Of course, I didn't and I am looking forward to flying again.

24. My favorite kind of sunglasses are Aviator sunglasses.

25. I run into walls a lot and door frames. And desks. And the cart that holds cups at the nursing home. And tables.

The End.

It's a Street We All Go Down