Go USA

Olympic ads are really annoying me this year. Ever since I first started seeing the Visa commercials a month or so ago, it has been bothering me. "Go World." Huh? What happened to "Go USA?" Didn't American commercials actually used to support the USA? Why are people afraid to support the American Olympic team? We are competing against other countries, and it's ok to support your own country. It doesn't mean you hate everyone else, only that you are proud of your own country. During NFL season in St. Louis you don't see ads for "Go NFL," you see ads for the St. Louis Rams. It would be absurd to do otherwise. You can go to the coca cola web site and "design the world a coke." I don't know, all these ads are getting to me. I don't necessarily think there are anything wrong with them, I just think that everyone is jumping on the band wagon for all this, nad it would just be nice to see some red, white, and blue. Oh well, maybe it's always been this way and I'm only just now noticing this.

I can't wait until the Olympics. I love summer Olympics and always look forward to them. They haven't been during my summer break in 12 years so I'm excited to actually have time to watch them. By the way, Allison, I heard Paul Hamm made the men's gymnastics team. Woot woot!

Faith to be Strong

"Give us faith to be strong, Father, we are so weak.
Our bodies are fragile and weary
And as we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong.

Give us faith to be strong, give us strength to be faithful.
This life is not long, but it's hard.
Give us grace to go on, make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong.

Give us peace when we're torn, mend us up when we break.
This flesh can be wounded and shaken.
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn.

Give us faith to be strong, give us strength to be faithful,
This life is not long but it's hard.
Give us grace to go on, make us willing and able.
Lord, give us faith to be strong.


Give us hearts to find hope, Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try Lord it's hard to believe
So give us hearts to find hope.

Give us faith to be strong, give us strength to be faithful
Cause life is not long but it's hard.
Give us grace to go on, make us willing and able.
Lord, give us faith to be strong.

Give us peace when we're torn.
Give us faith
Faith to be strong."

-Andrew Peterson

Just a song that means a lot to me, and has helped me today. A good taste of Andrew Peterson as well. If you haven't heard of him, I would highly recommend him. His songs speak to the struggles and joys in the Christian life, and sing God's praises in such a simple but profound way. I just love his music.

Work today, and hopefully it'll go well.

Random thoughts

I'm cooking a frozen pizza for dinner right now. On the directions for cooking it, it reads "Cook before eating." I wonder if people really eat frozen pizza un-cooked, that they felt it necessary to include that. Gross.

I worked today. It was a pretty crappy day. But I don't feel like going into details. I really do enjoy my job at Hallmark, but today it was particularly crappy for some reason. I don't want this to be a ranting post so that's all I'll say. It was just one of those days, and on top of that PMS so yeah you know how it is.

I just realized yesterday that summer is almost half-way over! I can't believe it! It has really flown, and now that I'm going to be even busier it's going to fly even faster. I definitely want to get started on the fall semester, because I just want to do this thing and finish school, but at the same time this is my last summer vacation ever and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. I think that I have, but there won't be any fun trips or anything major to make it memorable over any other summer I've ever had. I miss summers in high school, cause they were always fun and I usually traveled. Someday I might get to do that again, but for now it's work and school. :) Such is life, I suppose!

It is thundering outside. I hope it storms! I love storms! I'm one of those weird people that doesn't mind hurricane season. Now, I don't want destructive hurricanes, but a tropical storm is basically one giant thunderstorm on steroids, it's not too bad. There is something to be said about the excitement surrounding an approaching hurricane or tropical storm. And you can't beat a good hurricane party! But I don't want to glorify it, they are really dangerous and we had a tree fall on our house one year so I really don't wish for the storms. I take it all back.

I've been on a big Steven Curtis Chapman kick lately. Brings back some good memories hearing his songs! Any of the Christian music from the '90s will do that. I grew up on that stuff. I don't like most of the current contemporary Christian music. It all sounds the same to me. I like good stuff like Michael Card (probably one of my favorites ever), Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, or Andrew Peterson. And I like Michael W. Smith's really old music, not his recent stuff. I don't know, when I turn on the Christian station, I feel like no one has their own sound, they all just try to sound exactly like all the secular musicians out there. And it sounds like just a cheap imitation most of the time. Just a pet peeve of mine.

Ok time to eat supper so good bye!

VBS

All the kids at VBS. I just love this.

Catherine, Michael, and Alex were the runners for Friday night. We had an awesome time making that video and just having fun!

The End

VBS is over. I really thought I would be so glad, because I was so tired and still am! For some reason I just feel really sad for it to be ending. My mom and I were talking last night and she felt the same way, and we can't figure out what was so different or special about it this year. I know it's so exhausting, but it is sad when you put in tons of hard work, and then it's over like that. Plus I won't be able to do it next year because of school, so I have to wait two years! But I'll always come back for VBS.

I think that with all that's been going on with church, things have just seemed up in the air and I've always felt discouraged about it. I guess I felt like Pinewood was the one thing I could depend upon, since I've been going there for 17 years. But since April I have just been really disappointed by everything, and maybe VBS just felt good this year, because it was something that I could take part in, have a say in, and make it as much like it used to be as I could. To make it feel like the old Pinewood. I don't know if that's right or not, but it sure has been comforting. I would love to stay more involved this coming year, but I'm not sure that's possible.

Our video ended up being great! I think the kids loved it, and I asked everyone I ran into what they thought. I think they all loved it. I'm so glad we got to do it, and I had tons of fun helping make it! I also got to hang out with Tricia and Alex more, which was awesome. So, hopefully after this year people might want more videos. I'd be willing to help with it next year, even if that's all I got to do.

I work today from 10 'til 3. I know once I get there I'll be fine, but right now I just want to stay home and sleep. But I need money even more than sleep, so it's off to work I go!

Birthday and VBS

My first drink, an appletini! :) It was really good.

Wynissa, me, Kim, and Bela- some of my nursing buddies

Me and Bela

I had a great birthday! Most of my closest friends were able to share it with me. :)

Tomorrow is the last day of VBS. All week I have been choosing runners for the closing each day. Today Alex approached me about doing a runner video for the closing ceremony. This is something that they used to do years ago but because of all the effort it just sorta died. We're bringin' it back!!! We spent almost three hours tonight doing it, and it was hilarious. Alex started off with an afro and sweat band and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen. I had fun filming it and can't wait to see the final product!

I've had so much fun this week. But it has been exhausting. Yesterday I had to go to work after VBS. I was sooo tired at the end of VBS but by the time I got to work I felt ok, thankfully. So it was a really good day! I shadowed one of the ladies that works there. I'm not sure what I'll be doing on Saturday, probably still shadowing just because it takes a little bit to learn some of the stuff. But I think I'll enjoy the job. So far, so good!

I've had a great week! I'm not sure I want it to end!

One down, four to go :)

I made it through the first day of VBS!! Yeah! It went really smoothly, actually. I really thought that it would be a lot more hectic. If I remember right, last year's Monday was absolutely crazy. The first hour and a half today was crazy, just with some mix-ups that occurred. But I was really thankful for how well it went. I got the job of choosing runners for the closing at the end of each day. That's pretty fun, choosing and trying to figure out what group of kids would have a good time together and be funny for the kids.

So for the rest of the week my job shouldn't be too bad. I shouldn't say that though, because now it will probably be insane! My main job is making sure teens are not wandering the halls or spending too much time in the break room. We all love the break room!

I had my first day at Hallmark today, but mainly all I did was get a tour of the store. You may be surprised, as I was, that you even need a tour around such a small store. But I did not realize just how much stuff they have! Plus, I have to learn where all the cards are. My section for re-stocking and all that is the music cards. Yeah!! Except I probably won't be allowed to play them, which is what I always do when I go to Hallmark. :)

I am exhausted! I forgot it was possible to be this tired. By the time I got home it was too late to take a nap, but that's probably better because I'll sleep well tonight. And then it's up again for another day of VBS! :)

Tomorrow I get to go to dinner with all my friends! I'm so excited! I miss my nursing friends so much and I can't wait to see them. It will be an awesome time. And Allison and Hannah will be there too, which will be a lot of fun.

:)

Today

Allison came home today!!! We went to the beach with Hannah and the Kercher girls. It was a lot of fun and I did not get a sun burn. :) The tide was low when we got there so we set up our towels a pretty good distance from the water. Within the hour the tide was rising and we had to move three different times! I don't think I've ever been there when it happened so quickly! But we had fun. Just talked, laid out, and waded in the water. The beach is such a relaxing place.

Allison and I went out and bought Dad a present for tomorrow. He is not really concerned about fashion much so we have to buy him clothes usually for presents. We ended up getting him a nice blue shirt with an awesome blue, white, and black checkered tie. It is pretty sweet. I hope we can get him to wear it to church! And while we were at Target, we ran into Lauren and Catherine! That was fun. Can't get enough of the Kerchers! They are my other family.

Well, that has been my day. Nothing too exciting has been going on. :) Good night!

Happy Birthday

Today is Allison's 23rd birthday sooo, happy birthday Allison!!!! Which makes my birthday five days away. I will finally be 21. No, I'm not going to go out and party, but I do plan on having a couple drinks at dinner. All in moderation, I believe. Growing up my parents did not drink, and they still don't, but I have seen what the partying scene has done to people around me, and I'm perfectly happy to stay away from it, and enjoy alcohol very occasionally in moderation.


Rarely have Allison or I ever had our own birthday parties. Growing up we just did them together. I'm not sure whether we did them on Allison's birthday or on mine. I don't know how old we are turning in that picture, but it's pretty much what it has always been. I don't think I ever minded it- in fact I secretly loved sharing that time with her. I think she hated it though, but deep down she had to like it at least a little! I have also often had to share my birthday with Father's Day. Even if it doesn't fall on Father's Day, we have pretty much always done the celebrations on Father's Day. Hm, well I guess that's when we always did the parties, in between our birthdays. But I think that we still got to be the stars, and my dad never minded a bit.

People used to think Allison and I were twins. Do we look like it in that picture? Now if you see us together we hardly look like sisters! I'm tall with curly hair, and she's quite a bit shorter with straight hair. We have very different faces, at least I think we do. But people literally could never tell us apart for years.

Well, since this post has been obviously dedicated to Allison, then I'll end it by saying once again: Happy Birthday Allison!!!!!!!!!

Thoughts

I just got a real craving for a good Mexican flour tortilla. I wish I was there right now! I haven't really felt that way until now, and Hannah will be getting back tomorrow. I won't be doing any traveling for a long time. Some day I will, when I have a job and money.

Speaking of which, I got the job at Hallmark. I'm really glad. It's not going to be the most amazing pay, or a lot of hours really, but it's something. And something is better than nothing, which is what I've been doing since school got out.

Listening to Michael Buble. Amazing, most definitely.

Today

My interview went really well! I will find out tomorrow if I get the job. She sounded pretty positive about it, so I'm hoping. I would love to work there!

Today I realized that it has been a long time since I've been to the dentist. I'm one of those people that when I think of something like that, I'll make a mental note of it and then forget to make the appointment- which is why it's been so long. But today I called and they had an opening at 11:45, so I went! I was really nervous about having cavities because it has been so long since I went, but I did not have any cavities! :) That was a relief because I don't want to have to pay for something like that.

After that Lauren and I went to the beach! It was nice and relaxing. We just laid out and talked. I really love the beach. I realized today how much I take for granted that I can go pretty much whenever I want to. It is just so relaxing. And I love the sun, even though it's my enemy. I put sunscreen on my arms, back, shoulders, and stomach, but decided that my legs are soooo white and needed at least a little color. Well when you're talking with a friend you forget about time and all of a sudden we had been there for more than two hours. So my legs are pretty burned- the first sunburn I have had in almost three years! That was so stupid of me! I had melanoma almost three years ago, and I know better than to let myself get sunburned! *sigh* Sometimes I just get so tired of being so pale. Everyone else is tan and they don't have cancer! That's not to say they won't eventually get it, but people who are tan are so much prettier and it's not fair. Oh well. I have to be more careful. That was really dumb and careless of me today.

Today was a good day. Minus the sunburn. Although I forgot how much I actually like sunburns. They make me feel fresh and kissed by the sun! Ahhh, ok gotta stop. No more burns for me.

Yay!

I'm going in for a job interview at Hallmark today, and I'm excited! :)

Another one bites the dust....

Ok, so that's a joke. Margaret got married yesterday! It was a really sweet wedding, and a fun reception. I'm really happy for her. Curtis seems like a really good guy, and I know they'll be happy together. Their marriage is grounded in Christ. The ceremony was really neat. They had his dad and their RUF minister do the ceremony together, which is quite different than anything I've seen before. It was pretty cool. Ah, weddings. They always make me want to get married! Haha, a far cry from my last post, huh.... ;)

So I'm done house-sitting. I enjoyed it but it's good to be back home. The house I got to live in for a week was beautiful. Big, open, clean, very fancy. And while I just loved it, it's not home, y'know? I don't live in a nice big house. It's very modest and very little is nice or new about it. But it's home. There's still the same old linoleum on the kitchen floor, still the same old carpet, etc... in the hallway there's a small dent in the wall created by my head when I was four years old, when Allison decided to push me off a bench. And there's still a hole in one of the bedroom doors where Allison kicked it when Melissa wouldn't let her in the bedroom (many years ago)... I'm seeing a pattern here. Allison is very violent! Haha, I'm just kidding! I know there are plenty of things Melissa, Hannah, and I have done as well. I just can't think of any. No other house has the room where we watched Reading Rainbow, or put on plays and dressed up. No other house has Melissa's name written on the wall behind an armchair to commemorate that "Melissa was here in 1998..." And I could go on. All that goes to say, our home has a lot of memories. I grew up in this house and no matter how small or old it might be, it's my home and I love it. It will always be home.

There I go again, being all sappy and sentimental! All because I spent a week house-sitting for someone. Dang it, I gotta stop.

Nine days until I turn 21. :)

And I like smiley faces. :) :) :) You might find I use those a lot, but I mean it when I put a smiley face. It means I'm happy! To state the obvious.

Well good bye. This week is preparation for VBS, hurrah! ;)

Life

I'm house-sitting right now. Tomorrow will be my last day. It has actually been really nice! I'm here by myself, with only the company of two dogs and two cats. And, I guess being somewhat of the introvert that I am, I can take it. I almost find it refreshing to have a quiet house, and settle down in the evening with a good movie. Every day for a week! I don't always get energy from being around lots of people. And I'm ok with that. I still love to be with people though, don't get me wrong! I think people think it's weird to be the way I am. But I don't really care.

Interesting, yesterday I ran into somebody who I haven't seen in a long time. It's probably been about two years. She's a wonderful person and we stood in the middle of Publix for 20 minutes and talked. Publix- such a great place to socialize, isn't it? :) Anyway, of course one of the big questions I got was: "Are you dating anybody?" I was talking to Melissa last night about that. It honestly doesn't really annoy me when people ask questions like that. I mean, I can accept that people expect that when you get to my age. And I can laugh at myself over the fact that I'm happily single. Yes, happily single! Is that even possible, you ask??? Heck yeah. So anyway, I do think it's kind of funny that when I'm catching up with someone one of the main things they are interested in about me is if I'm in a relationship. Nothing wrong with that. But why is that? Are we so groomed by society to believe that once you reach a certain age it is normal to be in a serious relationship? Should I be on the verge of engagement right now? Or already engaged?

What defines me? When catching up with people, it is usually over the routine subjects. School. Work. Family. Dating. Church. And so on. So, are those the things that define us? Should they be? I suppose I do define myself by those things. But I stubbornly refuse to be defined by a man (or lack thereof) in my life. I'm almost proud to tell people that I'm single and completely fine with that right now. But if I'm so against being defined by a relationship, then why am I so quick to define myself by the following: "I'm a nursing student. I live at home with my family. I might be working with cancer patients this summer. I faithfully attend my church. I love to be with friends and.... etc etc..." Just look at my facebook profile and those are probably the things I would use to define myself.

So what really defines me? Where does my security rest? If those things were taken away, all of them, how would I define myself? I'm a child of God. I belong to Jesus. Well, that is what it would be. But that should be it anyway. With all the material and worldly possessions and treasures that I have, Christ should be what defines me. Nothing else should matter! Of course, when catching up with someone I know that these are still the subjects that come up, but why do I let myself be so ashamed to also talk about how I'm doing in my walk with Christ.

Just some things I've been thinking about. And on a similar note, today somebody told me that since the day they met me they have just felt like I will be marrying a wonderful man. That definitely took my by surprise, I don't think anybody other than Laurel and my mom has ever told me something like that. Well, I certainly hope they are right! ;) Though I'm proud of my singleness, I certainly wouldn't object to God bringing someone along! But until then here I wait, living a blessedly single life.

And yeah, singleness can be a blessing and a gift. Just one I pray I don't have forever. ;)

VBS Fun

I forgot just how disrespectful kids can be. I was reminded once again at the all-staff meeting on Sunday night for VBS. I remember being in the position as a teen, being assigned to a place that I absolutely did not want to work. But I also remember having a mom who told me to suck it up and get over myself, and just do it. I'm amazed at the kids who complained about it. Not going to single anybody out, but I had some backtalk from a few kids. Might I remind them that I may only be 20 (almost 21, mind you!), but you still don't talk to me that way? I had a 14 year old mouth off to me! Needless to say I hit really hard on respect in the teen training. Allison said I was very authoritative, so I'm hoping that'll end up being a good thing. It's always better to start off mean (and by that I mean laying down the law), then you can be nicer later. Doing the assignments was much harder this year. I think some of the kids really thought I had it in for them.

But overall it went well. I think my feelings could have been hurt but I decided that I'm not going to let any of it affect me. I know that some of the kids don't like me very much right now, but I can't please everybody. It's not an easy job. Nancy last year told me that she has friends and doesn't have to be friends with the kids, at least not when you're in authority over them, and I agree with that. She wasn't afraid to get in their faces, and I think I learned from her that it's better to be authority when you are in that position. I just don't want to let anyone walk all over me. I want everyone to have fun. My reminder every day at prayer will be that we are in it to serve God and not ourselves. And that's what I had to tell myself Sunday night when I had a pounding headache and was practically bombarded on all sides by something the whole evening.

I think I've painted a really negative picture about what I'm doing, so I want to say that I'm really excited about VBS. And there is no sarcasm there at all. I love VBS! It was an awesome part of my childhood. I haven't missed a year since I was three years old. I just love it. I love being part of it as an adult now, even with some of the bumps in the road it is an awesome experience. When I was a kid, even a teenager, I had no idea just how much work everybody on staff puts into it. Some of them have been working on planning it for more than two months now! I used to wish VBS lasted all summer, and always why my mom disagreed with me. Well now I know. :) It's so much fun, but definitely stressful.

And I'll be turning 21 during VBS! :)