I hate giving these titles because I never know what to put...

So we got a letter a few days ago about scholarship offers from Mississippi State. Because of my ACT score, and my incapability to make a decent one, they aren't going to offer me as much as we'd hoped or really needed them to. I know my dad, and if I begged and pleaded I know he would do his best to get me there for my freshman year, even if it meant him going broke.



Ever since our visit to MSU earlier this month, I've been thinking. I LOVED the school. I love everything about it. But maybe I'm just not really ready to go off yet. As much as I complain about my family, I do love them.

I don't like change. And, I actually LIKE Decatur. But most of all I don't want to be the sole reason why my Dad has to work past his retirement, even though I know he will anyways.



So, the verdict is, I'll be going to Calhoun in the fall. And for the first time, when I think about college, I'm actually kind of excited. And I know thats weird.

I can live at home, and still work to save up for when I go off next year or the year after.
Calhoun has a pre-vet program, which is pretty much just the basics that you will get anywhere. And after maybe I'll have saved enough to make it t Auburn to finish up, and graduate school, assuming my plans and majors haven't changed by then.

What I'm most nervous about is telling people. I know I shouldn't be embarassed, and I'm not, I just feel, and know, that people are going to look down on me for my decision. And I'm not looking forward to being in a room full of my senior friends and people asking us where we are going... "Auburn, Samford, Alabama, UAB, .... Calhoun. "
Alot times, especially with the people I am friends with, they just don't understand the concept that not everyone can pay for four or more years of steadily rising tuition fees and books and room and food. And I also know that people will be thinking in their heads that I'm taking the 'easy way out.'

I'm excited and scared. UGH.
~

I GOT JUST DANCE 2 for the wii. Might have been my smartest purchase ever. Especially seeing a room full of guys play...hehe.

Snow ponies

Today Dad was talking about what he should do after his retirement. Mom said open a Twistie Treat (Ice cream place). I said start rescue for abused and neglected horses. Mom said open a skate park with a Twistie Treat. I said open a horse rescue that doubles as rehabilitation horse ranch/summer camp for autistic children...

If people around me didn't know, I absolutely cannot WAIT to have my own horses. Even if, for some reason, I don't make it in the line of veterinary work that I want, or any at all. My back-up options that I've always wanted to pursue are:
* Be a firewoman
*Work with autistic children
*Go into the army
*Open up a flower nursery ( My thumb is practically brown, so that is out I guess...)
*become a ferrier

So... maybe I can someday I can do at least one of those... I just wonder sometimes if I'm truely intelligent enough to one, get into vet school, and two, make it through and graduate from it.

All of this was prompted by some fat ponies frolicking in the snow.

I grew up learning not to judge someone by what gender, race, religion, or preferences they might have. I was taught at a very young age the importance of the Golden Rule. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that not everyone had the same up bringing as me. I hate it, but I know that somewhere out there, there are still parents that tell their children 'We don't associate with those people...'. Everytime I hear a race joke, it makes me SO mad. I've seen people tell them, then, just at the other end of the lunch table, or across the room, some kid's or an adult's head will sink a little lower, because just maybe it pertained to them.

All people care about these days is being loud and obnoxious and being heard and being liked, or thought comical. Last time I checked, putting someone down because of where they come from is not okay. What if someone went up to white people everyday and reminded them of how they used to beat the life out of slaves and foreigners, and how some of their grandparents might have been members of the Ku Klux Klan who saught out people that were not part of the 'White Supremacy?' That they killed thousands of women and men that might have been fathers and mothers and whose children were then orphans whom probably grew up to meet the same fate? I don't hear stuff like that in the hallways everyday at school.

I'm part Japanese and part Cherokee. And sure, I get the Mulan and Jackie Chan jokes at school, but some of the things other people get said about them? Its awful.

I couldn't be someone ethnic in the media light right now. I would probably be in jail for punching someone.
Our President, Obama, is black, and his ancestors originated in the East. This does not mean he is dumb, incompetent, unintelligent, or unable to make decisions regarding our country. I would like to see all the people that draw charicatures of him as a monkey, or worse, sitting in that White House, making the calls he makes everyday. You don't have to agree with him, or even like him, but he does deserve respect.

Everyone makes snap judgements, whether they realize it at the time or not. I am not excluded from this. However, it makes me sick to my stomach at what some of the mean hurtful things I hear people say in the hallways at school just because of how someone is dressed, or their weight, or who they are friends with.

Growing up in the family I did, and the very first church we went to when we moved to Alabama, we met all types of people from all different back grounds. My church I go to now is very similar to that one. We have many extremely close family friends that used to be addicts to drugs or alcohol, and what not. We also have people, people whom I consider close enough to be family, who are gay. I'm not going to say whether I believe it is right or not, but I know that some of those people are some of the best I have ever known, and I wish I could introduce them to everyone.

My parents are some of the most open people I know. My mom told me once when she was in high school, that it was in the midst of 'not being cool to be associated with black people' time. She had a best friend whom she went everywhere with who was black. She said she would get strange looks from people, and they would ask her why she hung around her. But she never abandoned her friendship, or her belief that discrimination is wrong. I tihnk she even said she lost a few other "friends" because of that.

Discrimination is WRONG, and I can't handle it anymore. I'm not afraid to call someone out about it. I have in the past, and have become more distant from some of the people I used to call friends because of it. This issue bothers me more than almost any other.


'Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.' -Proverbs 10:12

Current loves

This is just something I feel is necessary right now. ( I should be studying for my exams, but I just can't make myself do it)

My Recent Concentrations of Adoration:

1. Almond Milk
2.Carnation Instant Breakfasts.. with almond milk
3. Beowulf
4.Pomegranates and all things flavored like them
5.Blogging
6.Etsy
7. Athleta
8. Modcloth
9.Patagonia
10.Simple Shoes
11.Piperlime
(the previous websites [6-11] are pretty much my miserable life)
12. Leggings
13.Leggings and shorts... in the 20 degree weather.
14.My new rainboots ( which I will recieve for Christmas)
15. Cooking for people
16. My job
17. 'Under the Tuscan Sun'
18. Saunas
19. Southern Reflections
20.Mississippi State
21.My Spanish Class
22. Hobby Lobby
23. TARGET
24. Sunflowers
25. My boyfriend's cute nose :)

My Love- William Shakespeare

"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." -Romeo and Juliet

I want to marry William Shakespeare. He is the best writer of all time. Even though many of his stories are tradgedies, his words are beautiful and flowing, and just make me incredibly happy. Boys of today could learn something from him.
Although Romeo and Juliet can be argued whether it is, in fact, the greatest love story ever told, I do believe it is. What woman or man would want more than for their beloved to sacrifice themselves for the other? Romeo knew he would want know one else if Juliet were not alive, and he could not live without her. (Maybe he could have waited around a few more minutes, but...) And Juliet, upon her waking felt the same. It was an intensly wonderful gorgeous love, one worth dying for. Every girl wants that one boy to come throw rocks at her window and climb up a tree just to see her face.
I'm usually not one to be in favor of well known, over read literary works, but Romeo and Juliet is probably my favorite from Shakespeare. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a very close second.

"One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun."

I have too many to count, but one of my major flaws is holding things in. I've never been that girl to break down in sappy movies, or go off on someone when their mad, or even cry during tragedies. My dad always used to have these pep talks with me that ended in, "You are alot like me. Its very hard for you to show anything. At the time you may feel that is a good thing, but ten years from now, you may look back and wish you had done things diferently. I just don't want you to make the same mistakes I have made in being hard and calloused and not letting people in, or letting people see you." Of course he has also told me in recent days that I need to 'loosen up.' What he means by that I'm not really sure.
I guess I have always felt that crying makes me weak. I don't look down on other people who do, I just feel that it holds true for me. In the past, I suppose I thought that If you show emotion toward something , than it makes it more real than if you don't. Maybe thats why I used to get over things so quickly.
At least, all of that has held true up until recent years. I guess when you do let people in, you need to do so in knowing, that at some point, they are proably going to hurt you, whether they realize it or not. It is the ones closest to you that often break you down. I hate feeling that hurt, and being emotional, maybe this is why actually getting close is hard for me.
However, this year, I have made so many great friends, that until now, I hadn't realized that I was so close too. I'm afraid for graduation, and the inevitable disconnection that will come, and I'm afraid of never seeing them again. I just hope I can deal with it.


I'm sorry for all my ridiculously sad posts, I just need to vent!

Instrument Blues

I wish I played an instrument, or was just good at anything, or had a hobby. My brother is getting a guitar for Christmas, which brings his grand total to four, if you count his voice.

I love to sing, but I'm no good at it.

I wish I had stuck with ice skating. I quit because some little girl, probably four years younger than me, told me I was bad. When In reality I was actually pretty good to have been moved into an advanced class with her.

I REALLY wish I still played soccer. I did not quit on my own accord. The doctor said I had to on account of my bone cyst and something that was wrong with my patella. I was devistated. I miss it so much, but it kills my knee everytime I play still.

I know what my hobby would be if I could fund it; horseback riding. I used to take lessons and jump and team pin and trail ride and sometimes play polocrosse badly. However, My parents could no longer pay for it. I will have my own horse one day. There is no question in it.

I'm still that little girl who asks for a pony every holiday and Christmas.

Old Friends

Jason , Lacey and I used to be the terribly terrific trio. We did everything together. Our parebts were all best friends. We camped almost every weekend, had sleepovers, lock ins, bonfires, there are too many things to count. Unfortunately we grew up. Jason Now lives in Missouri and Lacey goes to Una.

We got to see Jason and his dad this past weekend when Dale came to sing at his old church.

I don't know why my spaces on my blog are so large. Sorry to any one that reads, which I'm pretty sure might be one person.

28

Twenty-eight is the age I wish to be right now.

In my eyes its the perfect age. I'll be out of college, maybe newly wed, hopefully starting my own veterinary practice, and hopefully building, renovating, or moving into some old beatuiful farm house in the middle of the country with my golden retriever, border collie, two horses, one burro, and husband.

I'm ready to wake up every morning and look out the window and see nothing but pastures and green and trees.

I'm ready to get a phone call in the middle of the night from some distressed woman or man that needs me to come help their mare give birth to a beautiful wobbly-kneed foal. (If you have never seen a horse give birth, its one of the most spectacular awsome things I have ever seen)

I'm ready to have my own family traditions.

I'm ready to decorate my own house.

I'm ready to name my horses and dogs the names I already have picked out for them.

I'm ready to live.

I'm ready to be old... er.

I'm sick of seeing some people every day; the people that are just dumb and that are throwing their life away before they even turn twenty.

Granted, I love my best friends, all of which are beautiful and amazing and are going to be wonderful successful people. And I'm not saying that I don't love my life just the way it is right now, I'm just tired of the school, and drama, and being in a house that I don't like with my brother and his five pianos.

~

Off of that subject, I just started a new, probably temporary, seasonal, job working with my mom and about ten other ladies at Morgan Price Candy Store.

It's amazing.

I never thought I could enjoy another job again after what I experienced working at Parkway a couple summers ago.

It was pure Hell.

But I adore all of these ladies already. They joke around, laugh, curses like sailors sometimes, and are just themselves all the time.

The phrase, " You HAVE to try this! How are you supposed to tell customers about the products if you don't know what they taste like...?!!" Is going to be the death of me, and my waistline. I can already feel it.

But I love it so far.

Rosemary and Ms. Dossie

Last night I went to volunteer at St. Luke Methodist Church to help with their Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless or impoverished of Decatur. Drivers bussed them over from the NCC, CCC, and th Salvation Army. I helped set up and was assigned to a table to serve food and take refills and just whatever they needed. Amother and daughter came in and sat at my a,d Jimmy, our table host's, table. They were about my mom and grandmothers ages and were the cutes things I have ever seen. The daughter's name was Rosemary, and the mom, who couldn't have been more than 5 feet tall, was Ms. Dossie. They had the biggest personalities and were so full of life. There was a band playing some contemporary worship music, and they were dancing and singing and clapping their hands. When the dessert cart came around Ms. Dossie got a piece of red velvet cake. It turned her tongue and mouth completely red, so we laughed about that for a long time.

Mrs. Thibidoux was the one that told us of the event because it was at her church so she was floating around and making sure everyone was okay. She came over to check on our table and Rosemary was telling her how beautiful her necklace that she was wearing was. Mrs. Thibidoux walked away for a few moments then came back around behind Rosemary and fastened the necklace around her neck and said, "Well lets see how it looks on you!" and then walked away. Ms. Rosemary jumped up and ran and gave her a big hug and started crying. I'm pretty sure some of us at the table did too. I don't know that I have ever seen anyone so happy. Mrs. Thibidoux is such a great role model for people of any age, and I hope that I can be like her when I get older.

You can tell that everyone of the people that came to get a meal had put on their best clothes, even if some people would not consider it so. There napkins sitting at every table setting that had a big colorful turkey printed on them, when Ms. Rosemary and Ms. Dossie saw them, their eyes got wide, and they leaned over and asked if I had any paper towls I could give them to use instead of the napkins. They said they couldn't stand to get something so pretty dirty with food. Rosemary said she could unfold it and cover her entire table that she had at home with it, like a placemat. I assured them that there were plenty more and that I could give them each a few before they went home to take with them.
We take so much for granted. Those people last night were some of the most gracious thankful people that I have ever encountered, it didn't matter if they had the brand names or labels to prove it.
When they finally got up to leave, they both told me good luck in college, and gave me a big hug. I would love to see them again.

I was so blessed that I could be of service. All the people at St. Luke are wonderful, caring, welcoming people, and even though I don't attend there, I felt like I could talk to some of them for hours.

Powder Puff

I'm just going to throw this one out there... but Senior Team 2 was the DEAL!! We dominated and pulled out another championship win for the seniors!

Cambios

There have been lots of changes and eventful things happening in my life lately.

I finally recieved my letter into Mississippi State a couple days ago, and my official certificate came in Friday!

I'm pretty sure this is really where I want to go.

I know its probably really dumb to already think that, seeing as my campus visit isn't til December, but I've done alot of research on it and watched all the videos on their website, and just looks like a place I can see myself at. I visited USA last spring, and it seemed like a wonderful school. Everything was being remodled, and its right near the beach, but it just didn't feel very home-y. Mississippi State is in Starkville, MS, which is very small town, just how I like it. Some people are into the huge college towns where theres tons of stuff to do and a bunch of people and parties every night, and I'm sure there will be thing along the same lines at State, but probably not to the degree of Auburn or Alabama. Its a smaller-ish school; I think I read somewhere that the student teacher ratio was something like 18:1. Plus if I go there I can get all my Veterinary schooling in at one institution without transfer.

I'm really excited about my decision of Veterinary medicine, specifically large animal as my major, but I'm just so worried that I'm not going to be smart enough, and am going to flunk out.
However, I'm really hoping one of my best friends, Cole goes there as well. He was accepted a couple days after me!

In recent days I have it has been brought to my attention that people DO indeed change. I have been blessed in my middle and high school years to not have to experience some of the drama and life altering conflicts among friends that some of the people my age face. There will always be people that filter in and out of your life. Some, you think at the time, are your friend or possibly best friend, but in the end you hang out with them continuously for a few weeks or months, then they gradually make their way back out of your life as quickly as they came. Its not a bad thing, its just life. Many times, I think, those people have a purpose, even if its not to be a life-long best friend. The worst experiences you have with people still always teach you some sort of lesson. I haven't really noticed til now, but I've changed too.
That being said, I also believe, that those select few people that you do call you forever best friends can sometimes teach you the hardest lessons of all. They know you best. Everyone changes, but I think your best friends change and adapt with you and to eachother, together. Thats the beauty of friendship, they love you for who you are, ALL the time.

Beggining of the 'Lasts'

Last night was my last Austin Football game.

I didn't think it was going to upset me as much as it did.

It was probably the best game ever. We didn't win, but I could feel how close all of us were, I think everybody could. Everyone talked to everyone and we just talked and laughed and cheered and danced and had a wonderful time.

I just love our Senior class. Some of the other grades at Austin right now are very cliquey. We have never been. Everyone has almost always gotten along with most everyone.

After the game the band played the alma mater and we all put our arms around eachother for the last time in a football game. Some of the boys have played in Ogle stadium since they were freshmen.

Even though we didn't coming out the winning team, it didn't really matter. Teams that stick together through losses are so much stronger than those who only come together for the wins.

Everyone just started hugging everyone that was around them, whether they were best friends or just someone you've had in classes. It was the start of, I'm sure, many heartbreaking moments that will come this year.

I know I will stay in touch with my best friends like Gaby and Hannah and them, but it really hit me hard when I hugged my best guy friends William and Cole. I love them both so much and I don't know if I can live with not seeing them both everday. Without them around, I won't get my daily doeses of name-calling, teasing, or being farted on!

I can predict lots of tears this year. I broke down in the safety of my car after the game when the Taylor Swift song 'Never Grow Up' came on.

Lets all go back to Freshman year and do it all over again.

I'm really trying not to think about graduation. We still have seven months to make the best of.

Proud to be a Black Bear.

Decisions

This is about to be an ecceptionally long entry.

I have finally decided on my major, well for now anyways. Veterinary Medicine, specifically large animal and equine.

Its what I have always wanted to do since I was a little girl when I went around the house wrapping up our family pets and 'nursing' them when they were sick or were recovering from surgery or whatnot.

I'm not real sure my dad is too keen on the idea, but Its what I really want to do.

I am so excited because we have connections through friends to this large animal/ equine vet. I am going to get to shadow him when he has a bunch of stuff lined up. I CANNOT WAIT.

I also want to shadow maybe just a regular vet just to see which one I like best.

I really like Mississippi State. We are planning a visit really soon. Its in a small town in the middle of a state where I'm fairly sure is mainly farmland. My type of place.

It also helps that Michael is looking at there as a possibility as well, seeing as both of his parents are alumni. It just seems more homey than USA. I'm excited. And scared. But maybe I can do this.

Yesterday I went with Hannah and Gaby to Bridgestreet to see a movie, Life As We Know It, and to shop. It was so much fun. I feel like I have in a way been neglecting them lately. Its not that I intentionally don't go out or hang out with them. I am just constantly busy. And not really busy with other activities, just HOMEWORK. I don't ditch them for Michael, even though it may seem that way sometimes. All I do is sit at home and do work. He is the only one that can help me with my math, and the very large majority of the time, that is what we do when we are together.

I just miss them. But I think the whole not seeing them thing is about to get better.

Emily is coming next weekend. I'm excited. Although I can't do my original plan to have my birthday party then, I AM still going to have it, it just might not get to be until early November.

I had a wonderful weekend right after Homecoming and my birthday at Fort Walton Beach, FL with Michael and his family. I love his mom so much, she is so cute. His grandmother, aunt, and her two children were also there. One was nine or ten-ish and the other little boy, Phillip, was five.
I have hardly ever had to deal with little kids that don't like me. I love them, and they usually like me too. However, Philip I'm pretty sure hated me. Maybe it was just his 'girls-have-cooties' phase or something, or maybe I was taking away him and Michael time. He completely ADORED Michael. It was so cute. So did Suzanna, his other cousin.
Coversation:
Michael- "Phillip, do you think my girlfriend is pretty?"
Phillip- "...NO! She is ugly and has boogers and is the meanest girl in the WHOLE world!"

Thats how most of the things he said to me the rest of the weekend went.

The first real night there we all went out to dinner at Joes Crab Shack, but the next night Michael took just me out for my Birthday dinner. We went to the Back Porch, its my favorite little place there in Destin. After we were done our waitor came up to us and said,

"Its yalls luckyday! A family that was sitting over there paid for yalls meal! They said they remembered what it was like to be young and in love, and short on money!"

It made my night.

I'm pretty sure later on that same night all of the 'kids' went crab hunting, Suzanna brought a cup full of crabs back up the the condo, and... somehow it got dumped, and they were then all over the floor. Yeah.

I'm sure there is more I'm forgetting, but I guess thats all for now!

Oh, and I'm super excited at the possibility of me and Michael getting to take ballroom dancing classes. :)

Homecoming Week

Lord help the people who have had to be around me this last week.

I have stress up to my eyeballs.

I'm so excited about all of these homecoming events, but the thing that would make me most happy, would be if I could understand Pre-cal. It is killing me. I'm pretty sure I'm not even passing the class right now.

Pretty much everynight I get home and start first thing on the homework, then Michael comes over to help me because he is a super genius and can figure it out when he is not even on the same section as I am.

By the end of the night I usually end up close to or in tears not because he is a bad teacher, but even when he explains it in the most simplest of layman's terms I cannot grasp the concepts. Then he feels bad because I'm sitting there being a baby and crying. He is so patient and always insists on letting him help me even when I know he has other homework he should be doing.

Its not that I particularly hate math. I just hate that I am not even semi-decent at it.

And the fact that my teacher has given us more homework for her one class than I have had in all of my classes this year so far, ALL during the most probable busiest week of my senior year, doesn't help.

I don't want to fall in the assembly. I was hoping for a big strong guy/ football player/ muscley/ tall senior escort, but I just found out that I think my guy is on the shorter side, so if I fall, ... there's no hope.

Our float is ballin.

I AM GOING TO THE BEACH IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS.

Friday, please get here fast.

Oh, P.S.- My 18th Birthday was yesterday.

Excitement

I have alot to look forward to in the upcoming few months.

Tomorrow We find out who all is on homecoming court at our pep rally,...

... However I'm not going to be there because we have to fly out of Nashville for my Uncle's wedding in Nebraska... NEBRASKA. Even if I don't make it on the court, homecoming will still be fun. Its our last one :(

Directly after the homecoming game I leave for Destin with the Hunkapillars which I'm really excited about. I need a break from all the stress that has been weighing me down here and think it will be good to get away for a long weekend. Plus I will get to meet more of his family.

The tuesday before homecoming is my 18th birthday!!

October ninth marks eight months for me and Michael.

We get our ACT scores back hopefully before the end of the month...

Emily is coming down the end of October.

Football games continue.

Hopefully I get my first DYSA reffing check.

Oh, and tomorrow I get my report card with my 90 (NINETY) six weeks average for Mrs. Berrymans class on it ;)

By the way, All these updates are completely useless to anyone that is not me

el futuro

So I took the ACT this morning. I don't how how I did. Math was HARD. I didn't really have very much time to prepare with all my other school work thats consuming my life, but I figure if I can't get any higher than what I have, then thats alright.

This is the last time I will be taking it, and it sort of marks the start of the whole college decision process. I've basically narrowed it down to two Universities... I think. I want to go to Calhoun for at least my freshman year if not two years because I think it will be easier on me and my parents.

I know counselors, parents, college people, always advocate not picking a school based on your friends or your boyfriend or your football team, but its very difficult not too. If I go to a school thats four or five hours away from where my friends are most likely to go to school, how often am I going to get to see them? I go to them for everything.

I've googled all possible routes from the schools I'm considering, to the ones Michael is. All are at least three of four hours apart.

This has become the main direction of my thoughts in last few weeks, I know its pathetic.


I got put on the homecoming ballot. I know its shallow, but I've wanted to be on the senior homecoming court since freshman year. Dream Big.

Pride

I've never been this mad at a football game, or maybe anything in my whole life. Last night was our annual Austin vs. Decatur big rivalry game. The whole week preceeding we have dress up days, car painting, spirit days, drum line competitions, peprallies, just all sorts of stuff that allows people to show their love of their school. Its one of my favorite weeks because everyone is so pumped and ready to cheer on our boys.

Right after school, me and Gab went to get our matching shorts then headed to the field a little before five to help all the guys paint up. That was fun. Then I had to go sing the national anthem with the mixed Austin/Decatur choirs.

Everyone wants to win, I know that. But someone has to lose. Its not so much that we didn't win, its the fact of how immature and disrespectful Decatur was. During the third quarter, Morgan, our starting quarter back got injured. Everyone saw him go down, and we figured that maybe he had just gotten the breath knocked out of him. But he was still on the ground in what looked like agaonizing pain when the ambulance rolled out a stretcher.
Now, when someone gets hurt in a football game:
One, the away team and more importantly, the home team are quiet. However, Decatur was still cheering and blowing horns and a good two third of Austins student section could not shut their mouths. All the seniors and some of the juniors were furious. If nothing else, show respect for our boys out there especially when they are hurt, and if not, why don't you get out there and do better.
Two, BOTH teams take a knee, not just the injured player's side. While they were stilll on the field our players were down as soon as they knew something was wrong. However, Decatur just stood around then eventually walked off the field. Then they just walked and stood around on the sidelines talking. By then me and, I'm sure, many other people were really feeling how much I generally hate the school across town.
And finally, Three. After talking through the whole time that they showed no respect what so ever towards Morgan, Some of their boys had the nerve to come on our side blowing their stupid horn with all simles. I talked to Mary Beth after the game and she said she followed them all across the stands yelling at them. Good.

I don't want to even look at the Daily this morning. Even when Austin does win, it finds someway to put us down, and DHS always ends up on the front page anyways.
I feel so awful for coach Perkins because he is going to take such a beating from the local press, and criticism from alot.

All that said, I have NEVER been more proud to be a Black Bear in all my life. Even when Decatur was playing dirty and throwing hits on the field, Austin held their composure. Maybe we don't have the most talented football team ever, but what we do have is CLASS, class and respect. I guarantee if the injury would have been for the other side, theres no doubt we would have conducted ourselves accordingly.

I was with Michael after the game. He said one of his friends texted him, and all it said was, "I tried." I almost cried. I just wanted to hug every boy out there. We had to go pick up a few of his friends that didn't have rides. As soon as I saw Ryan Watson, I did exactly that, hugged him.

No matter what, I'm proud to call Austin my home.

Unconditional Love

I couldn't come up with a better title to describe this Sunday morning at church. Its so difficult for me to imagine that there was once a time that my family and I were not apart of Epic church. Our whole family is there. My youth leaders are the most amazing people I know, and best of all, nobody trys to be perfect or to hide what has happened in their pasts. At alot of churches we have visited and tried to find our home in everyone is so up tight and staunch and prentenders that they never do anything wrong or unGodly, and look down their noses if you dress a certain was or express yourself.

This morning at Epic the praise music that started off our service was Amazing. Travis sand 'With Everything,' one of my favorites. I got goosebumps when the 'Woahs' came around and you could hear everyone in the room singing together. I.V.'s message was the last in our WASTED series and he spoke on Sin, and how nowadays everyone dumbs down the meaning of it to be called a mistake. And that if you call it that, then you are less likely to own up to your wrong doings and will probably just continue in your ways. Hesaid that there will come a point in everyones lives that you have to realize that you are a sinner, and theres really nothing you can do about it.

Then he had a card board sign that read 'Molested as a child, anger, rage...' He said that maybe he had a right to be mad and angry at the time in his life when that happened, but his outward actions and aggression and hatred towards others after that were all on him. But then he said that one day God spoke to him on his way to work, and thats when he realized he was a sinner. He flipped the sign over and it said something like 'Pastor full of love' and that is what he is today. If his story wasn't enough, he said that then there were people going to come out and share their stories with us too. The band started playing How He Loves (another favorite and tear inducer) Here are what some said. The before and after its flipped:

Given 6 months to live (but)........ 7 years later still standing

Drug addict.......................Committed. Saved. Free

Hated church. Left God........... He never left us

One non believer and one christ follower..... now married and believing

Torn by divorce...... United by God. (This one is my friend Briley from Revolution. Both her diverced parents and their spouses came and stood beside her and hugged her. At this poitn I'm bawling)

8 year old son diagnesed with cancer. No hope.............now happy and Cancer free!

Lost. Scared Foster child.......... adopted by the Thomases 2009 (Also crying)

Stroke 9 months ago....... healed instantly!

I and my son were attacked by armed men............ Safe in His arms

HAD to have a boyfriend, insecure............ God's princess

Full of religion................ then I met God

- Then I.V. and his wife Bene' walked to the center, her holding her sign that said

Hopeless Abortion, scared.............. (I con't rememner exactly what the other side said probably because I was too busy trying to control myself, but it was something wonderful)

Then afterward he kissed her head.

Needlesss to say I was in two full services and half of another one and I cried all three times. Men and women alike all left with tears in their eyes.

God is AMAZING :)

Rina

Yesterday Ambassadors that are in Mrs. Dixon's class went to their assigned schools for the first time. Gaby, Hunter, Jordyn, and I all went to Julian Harris and were assigned our teachers and classes. At first, I was kinda bummed because I didn't get one of the younger age groups, and instead got a fifth and a fourth grade teacher to split the time with.

The first part of the time I was there I went to Mrs. Singh's class. I wasn't really sure if I would be working around the classroom or with a few individual kids at a time, or what. But She introduced me to a little girl named Rina. She was new, adorable, Japanese, and spoke absolutely NO english what so ever. Mrs. Sing said that she did not know how much if any english she spoke, and that I should just work with her on the alphabet, and simple words, and phrases and stuff like that. So me and Rina (did I mention she is adorable?) went out to the common area. I felt so bad because I would try to talk and ask her questions to where she could understand me, but She hadn't the slightest idea of what I was saying. She just smiled at me apologetically when she didn't know what I was saying... which was basically the whole time.

Next time I go, I might take a game or something to try and get her to not be scared of me.

Michael says I have a problem with ethnic children and that he would not be the least bit surprised if one just happened to end up in my car one day.

Whenever I grow up I AM adopting from a foreign country... or two.


We had life group sign ups this past Wednesday at church. I was supposed to lead one for 8th-12th grade girls that talked about problems highschool girls face today, and staying pure, and nonconformity, stuff like that. I was excited...
No one signed up.

I think I might fail pre-cal. Its consuming my evenings.

Senior Beginning

So excited for his birthday ice skating. Don't let him fool you.




So, It has been the first two days of senior year, I have not fallen, I have not had any scheduling conflicts, I have not had to worry about who I will eat lunch with, and above all else I have not had a stress induced break- down thus far. HOWEVER, that is about to change because I just had my first round of Berryman homework. Shoot me now. Thank goodness for smart mathematical boyfriends with genius fathers :)

P.S. - I read on Mrs.Haughaboo's syllabus that we have to do several blog entries on something or other. This makes me very happy. I love blogging.

Popcorn Kernel

Scene: Walking out to Michael's car after Charlie St. Cloud

Background: I never ever remember to lock his door because you have to do it manually due to the lack of a clicker or a button that works. Plus, I have the short term memory of an inch worm. Luckily, nothing has been stolen yet.

Act:
Elyse and Michael are walking to his car. He reaches for the handle to open it for me, while grinning and looking at me out of the corner of his eye because he knows I forgot to lock it. Before he touches the door...

Elyse: "STOP! Okay, I forgot to lock it again! I'm sorry!"

Michael smiles, then leans down and takes off his shoe...

Elyse: "Are you going to hit me with it??!!"

Flinches away

Michael: (Dying laughing) "I had a popcorn kernel in my shoe! What kind of boyfriend do you think I am?!"

MAybe it was funnier if you were there. Now He goes and tells everyone about this little incident. The End

Beginning of the End

We are SENIORS. How did that happen? When did we get so old? I remember in the seventh grade when I met my true friends that are still there for me now. I remember how we thought we were so cool for having this little note-notebook and passing it around to eachother between classes and each writing separate entries into it for each one of us.I remember when we had code names for the boys we liked but never talked to. One of the biggest happenings at the time was when one of my best friends got asked to dance... with an actual BOY, at the eigth grade dance. It was monumental! After, all our discussions in the coming weeks centered around that. I remember when the biggest decision we had to make was whether to wear our hair straight or curly, whichever was the "in" thing at the time. Now, Its centered around trying to make a few measly points higher on some test that basically determines the rest of our lives.Its Crazy.

One of the saddest times in my life happened in the middle of my freshman year. Gaby, Emily, Jordan, Hannah, and I were all laying in Emily's drive way, taking a breather from one of our amazing weekend basketball games when Emily sits up and says she has something to tell us. She said that she and her family were moving to Atlanta, Georgia because her dad needed to move up in his line of work. Some of them started bawling immediately. I was just in shock. Emily, the best friend I had known since pre-school, the one I almost killed trying to share my pb&j sandwich, the one I went to see Mulan in theaters with, the one who gave me one of her My Little Ponies when we used to have Care Bear-watching play days, the one whom I still play Nancy Drew computer games with and scream and fall to the floor when a bad guy jumps out from behind a door on the screen... was moving hundreds of miles away. I didn't know what to say. That night, when we were all in out sleeping bags on the living room floor, after everyone else had fallen asleep, I cried, alot. I'm not that great at showing emotion infront of people, but its just how I handle things. I remember waking up early early the morning they were leaving and my parents driving me over to their house to see them off. Every night after that was terrible. I knew some friends stayed friends after one or the other moved away, but the many times they just drifted apart. I didn't want us to be like that. And now, almost three years later we are all STILL best friends. in the past couple months alone either we have gone there, or they have come here at least three or more times. Every holiday or long weekend thats the first thing that I want to do.

There used to be a framed picture in Gaby's room of her, Emily, and me all in our bathing suits with frizzy hair, me with braces, back before we knew what make-up was, arms linked, standing on her back porch by the pool. We were maybe in the seventh grade.

The halloween of eigth or ninth grade year, we decided we would dress up one last time. We were all obsessed with the Pirates of the Carribean movies at the time, so we were all fearsome, scruffy pirates.

Sleeping Bag surfing. Yes. New years 2009. It happened.

I loved Freshman year Homecoming when we all went with eachother and had the best time without dates.

One of the most memorable and most cherished nights in the Seibert driveway was when the new next door neighbor moved in. We all thought he was about the hottest thing on the planet... at least from what we could see from "accidentally" rolling the basketball over to the window of his kitchen and completely creeping on him, of course. Were we shallow, yes. Did we have fun, double yes.

Earlier this past school year, every moring for about a week, Hannah came to my first period chorus classroom before anyone else came in, and just held me while I cried, then took me to the bathroom and helped me clean up before she went to band. I don't think she knows how much that meant to me.

One Spring Break me, Gaby and Emily went up to Emily's grandfathers house and cattle farm. We all took turns riding old Sega. Emily and I, who had both taken riding lessons, had no problem leading hime around the arena. However, Gaby was severly taken advantage of, and Sega ended up going and stopping in the middle of the circle while Gaby sat on top of him yelling because she couldn't get him to move. It was quite comical.

Tonight Michael took me to see Charlie St. Cloud. I knew I would have a hard time with this movie, but still very much wanted to go see it. This is in part due to the fact that, even if no one believes me, I have had for a long time had horrible visions of my self dying in car crashes. Charlies brother in the movie dies in one while his old brother is driving,who knows. And the also because ... Its kills me to see guys cry. I can't handle it. I just take movies, or the emotions drawn from them, too seriously.

After the movie, he could tell something was bothering me, so he just held my hand and drove around a while. Its been building for a while. I just can't believe we are Seniors. Some of these people, people that I am close too and that I have talked to about things that I have shared with nobody else, I may never see again after this year. It tears me apart that Me, Gaby, Hannah, Emily, and Jordan might all be going to different colleges. I have recently been hanging out with a great bunch of new girls that I don't know how I will do without either. I know I shouldn't worry, and that God puts people in and takes people out of your life for a reason, and that anyone that is meant to stay a part of it will, but I worry about this almost constantly. This is going to be a hard year emotionally, I can already tell, and I'm so scared.

Flop

There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first . . . when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.
- Paramahansa Yogananda

True love is eternal, infinite, and always like itself. It is equal and pure, without violent demonstrations: it is seen with white hairs and is always young in the heart.
- Honore de Balzac

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
- Lao-Tzu

I love thee, I love but thee With a love that shall not die Till the sun grows cold And the stars grow old.
- William Shakespeare

On my own I'm so clumsy, but on your shoulders I can see I'm free to be me.
-Francesca Battistelli

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
-Corinthians 13:4-7

I believe that we are always attracted to what we need most, an instinct leading us towards the persons who are to open new vistas in our lives and fill them with new knowledge.
- Helene Iswolsky

Hundreth Customer

Tonight, I knew Michael had been wanting to go to Chili's because they have that whole Two for Twenty deal, (I don't relly like going out to eat, but I know he loves it so...) so we went at about eight.

When w walked in and were being seated, At a table a couple over from ours, IV, our pastor at Epic and his wife Bene' were waving at me. Ella, their adorable daughter ran up and hugged me. We talked to them for a few minutes, then went and sat down.

After we got done eating, our very cheery waitress came to our table and said "Yall are good to go!" We sat there for a second when we both came to the realization we had not paid yet! So of course we waited for her to walk by again, and when she did she hushedly said, "You don't have to pay, its on us. Yall are our hundreth customers!" So, again we sat there in shock. I was so excited because nothing, NOTHING, like that ever happens to me. I can't even win a game of bingo...

So we get up, still in awe and disbeleif and smiling walk out and start to drive home. About half way home I said "Oh no!! We didn't leave a tip!" I always leave a tip, wether our server is good or bad, and feel awful if we don't. And she was so nice, so I 'm like "Can we please go back up there and find her to give her one?! Its the least we can do after her giving us a free meal."

We pull back in the parking lot, and IV and Bene are sitting on the benches out fromt talking to whomever they ate dinner with, when we walk back into Chili's. We find out waitress and begin our story of being in complete amazement at our not having to pay, and totally forgetting a tip and driving back up there, and she was very greatful and probably amused. Then she says "Now you didn't hear it from me, I wasn't supposed to tell you, But that man sitting at the long table paid for yalls meal!" I started smiling so big and ran out of the the restaurant right to IV and gave him and Mrs. Bene' huge hugs. I just love them. He is the best pastor in the world :)

"That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love."
- William Wordsworth

cricka cricka cricka

Yesterday afternoon me and Mary Beth went to Fleet Feet in Huntsville. I'm so glad we can talk to eachother about our boys because sometimes I feel other people have a hard time relating. We got our Chacos, and I wore them for the rest of the day and evening!

Last night I had the most wonderful time doing nothing but sitting in a circle on the floor, eating popcorn, and just talking with the seven of my most favorite people! Some, I haven't known for very long, and some I have known forever, but I can tell that I am going to love this new group of friends. We already all types of fun activities and parties planned and I can't wait! The girl time was much needed and made me realize I need to spend more time with them, and will :)

Polly Pockets

Last week I babysat for the Benders. They are the owner of my gym and have SEVEN kids. I love them all and they are some of The cutest kids I have ever seen. I really only had to entertain about four of them because Amanda keeps the youngest with her and the others are a little older.

The days were LONG. As soon as I walked in the door Abby and Olivia were both holding up their arms saying "Up-ie."
Isabelle is the older of the four I was really watching. She seems so much older than my brother who is about to be a freshman and she is only going into the fifth grade.

Collin is in second grade I think. Hes a very good boy... except when he is around Olivia, then every little ridiculous thing becomes a competition.

Olivia is five. She has beautiful brown hair and can give you looks that could kill. Shes a drama queen, but I love her. I have an adorable video of her singing 'You Belong with Me' by Taylor Swift.

Abby is two. I know I'm not supposed to pick favorites but... she makes me laugh so hard. All the boys will be after her about 15 years from now.

To keep them from sitting infront of the tv or computer all day, Amanda bought them a slip n' slide, which sounded like a good idea at the time. However it was broken within the first hour and we had to just spray the plastic down with the hose. Oh the hose... This soon turned into a dangerous swinging object with a metal nob on the end that Collin and Olivia BOTH wanted control of at all times. All the while, Collin would put water in his mouth and spit it on Olivia and she would start bawling. IT was great.

Polly Pockets play was another stressful, scream-fest. You would thing for a family of seven sharing would not be such an issue.

While all of this was taking place. Abby would either be off in her own little world playing by herself in the yard, sleeping in my lap, holding onto my leg, or playing with her own dolls by herself.

The morning before my last day with them. I went to the gas station and got 4 Hershey's bars. Two of which I was going to divide up betweent Collin, Olivia, and Abbey, and give a whole one to Isabelle and Emily, the two oldest girls, for helping me out. As the day wore on, they were doing fine-ish, until I mentioned that I would be leaving shortly. Then, all three of them started pulling me in separate directions to try and start a new game or otherwise divert my attention from leaving. Abbey, who usually NEVER acts out, was flinging hardbacked picture books across the room. I warned her sever times and when she wouldn't stop, I sat her down and told her she was not getting the surprise I had tempted them into being good with all day. So I had them all wait in the living room while I broke up the chocolate and out them all on separate plates, so that there would be zero question on if one got more than the other. While I was doing this, Abbey walks into the kitchen, head down, cheeks red, and tears streaming down her cheeks. She hugged my leg and looked up at me and said, "I'm sowy." Being as adorable as she is... of course she got her chocolate.

I came home and slept for at least 3 hours everyday.

"Big-Boy" Cookies

Our cookie expedition yesterday...

My boyfriend is adorable :)

mis amigas

This summer has been extrememly busy for me so far. Even though I don't have an actual job outside of babysitting and a few small things right now, volunteering, church, and family have kept me going pretty much nonstop. However, my girls ar what keep me sane.

We can go for weeks without seeing eachother due to everyones hectic crazy schedules, and then when we all get together,by the end of the night my face hurts from laughing so hard. Its like we were never apart. We don't even have to be actually DOING anything. A few weeks ago my one of my longtimebest friends Emily was intown and all five of us were crammed on my couch downstairs cracking up until about four in the morning. Our conversations are on the most random, strangest, out-there subjects you can thing of. Unlike some girls at school, we don't need to drink to be able to be crazy and have fun. Infact, if for some reason we did do that, I don't know if anyone would live till the next morning! Mom said, "If this is what yall are like sober, wait till you all turn 21..."
But, I don't think that will ever be an issue.

The other night Jordan, Gaby and myself were all sitting at sonic (the go to place when all else in Decatur fails). For some reason, whether its the combination of sugar filled, calorie ridden drinks, or the lovely glow of the yellow, blue , and red fluorescents, Sonic always brings out the best in us.

On the way to the same spot a few weeks earlier, we all decided to ride out of Gaby's sun roof... very safe.

I love them.

Oh! Tomorrow, me and Gaby leave for Georgia to hopefully surprise Emily for her birthday :)

Vacation

This is what happens every year since about the sixth grade, when we take our annual summer drive down to Florida for a week, mainly,to see my Obachan (grandma), but above all else for my dad and Uncle Bob to leave us stranded for about four or five days while they go play golf at some luxurious resort. Being here also puts me in a constantly whiney and irratable mood, and this is only heightened because I have no car, I'm stuck inside all day, NO GYM, I can't run because I'm afraid of the neighborhood, and my brother is always within about ten feet from me. Shoot me now.

Car rides make me sick.

However, the most exciting on this 'vacation' thus far happened yesterday. Me, mom, and Alex went to Blue Spings which is just off the St. Jonhs River outside of Orlando. Its an all natural spring that comes up through this huge 150 foot deep crevice inthe ground. Thousands of water pump out per day, and its beautifully crystal clear. But, its also a constant seventy-two degrees. COLD! We didn't get a chance to do this, but further down the Springs in a lesser populated area where people aren't allowed to swim, they have manatee watchings. There are also these huge four or five foot fish in the water that I'm glad I didn't have goggles to witness because I probably would not have gotten in. But it was fun, and the scenary made me feel like I was in prehistoric times.

I love Spanish moss. Its everywhere here and gives everything a kind of mysterious feel. I wish I had my dream camera that would give the full appreciation of it!

I miss my dogs.I miss my gym. I miss my bed. I miss my car. I miss my friends. I miss my pool. I miss Michael. And (it sounds strange to say) but I do miss Decatur.

I suppose this is enough whining for one day.... USA vs. Ghana game later!

"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

~Irish Blessing

I remember singing this many times when I was little. As a solo at church and to one of our dearest family friends on his birthday. I think its one of the most beautiful songs.

I realize I haven't written in a while so... this is just some nonsense that I feel the need to share about the last couple weeks...

One) I have the best boyfriend ever. We swim alot because I have a pool and he comes over after football to cool off. This usually occurs at about ten in the morning, so I've barely had breakfast and went to the gym usually... much less thought about fixing my hair or putting on makeup. He always tells me I'm pretty. But more so when I think I look disgusting and frizzy after the pool, he tells me I'm beautiful, which I don't really understand but I love him for it.

Two) Lately I have been constantly stressing about school, and summer work and mainly ACT scaroes and getting into college and majors and all this grown up stuff that I really don't want to deal with because I don't handle stress well. It usually just builds and builds until I'm on the verge of an internal breakdown. But this is another aspect in my life, maybe the most evident, that Michael has helped me with. I am not a very vocal person when it comes to my felings or what I'm thinking or showing emotion. But he always asks me what I'm thinking, which helps me get it out rather than hold it in. And believe it or not (I didn't think it used to) It does help. He can always tell when I'm troubled by something. I still don't know if I'll be able to go anywhere besides Calhoun, But I guess we'll just wait and see.

Three) Me and my dad went out to lunch on Father's Day and were talking about college and he said the would set up a tour in the helicopter hanger for the on-call emergency rescue paramedic nurse people, which I think I might actually want to do. Sometimes his being an air traffic controller comes in handy!

Four) I had possibly the most embarassing evening last night. Me and Michael went to Greenway in Madison to walk and I took alot of cute pictures of us. I want a new camera.

and Five) I've been recently becoming really close with someone that I'm really happy I am friends with :)

Summer?

So school is FINALLY out for the summer. I cannot believe that we are finally seniors, and that I might only have a year left with some of my favorite people and after that possibly never see them again. I am such a people person and I don't know what I'm going to do when I can't see them everyday. This year I have gotten so close with people that I have never really spent that much time getting to know before. I've also recognized that I totally adore all of my guy friends. I haven't a clue how I'm going to cope without them in college. The thing about them is, they don't take 700 pictures of them in different poses and them post them on facebook for all to comment on how adorable they are. They don't care if you wear basketball shorts and tshirts EVERYTIME you hang out with them.And most importantly, I don't think that they are nearly as judgemental as some girls at school. Don't get me wrong, I love my girls, but its nice for a change.

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson


I was sooo looking forward to this summer for various reasons. One, my longtime bestfriend is now my perfectly adorable boyfriend. Two, I'm starting this project that I really hope I can make happen. And three, I was going to have minimal summer work for school because of all my NON-ap classes I'm taking next year, and because of this I could put most of my efforts into the first two reasons. However, me being the lucky girl that I am, gets called into the guidance office the last day of school with a sceduling conflict. I was so excited when I turned in my class scheduling form because of my seemingly easy senior year. But of course there was problems with my electives and getting all the core classes I need. Who needs Honors english? But now instead of taking regular Spanish 5... now I'm in A.P. Spanish 5... which intails waaay more summer work then I originally thought. Including a whole book. In spanish.Yay.

We went to a cookout for some friends from church. They had horses. Guess where I was the entire afternoon :)

Greater thing are yet to Come

A few days ago I was driving around the neighborhoods of downtown old Decatur. I was trying to find a route that I had driven through before, but instead wound up coming across a bridge overlooking a freshwater creek that must have been an off shoot from the nearby Tennessee River. This waterway cut right through the houses of that neighborhood. I love driving around my town especially in that area because I always find something new. It made me think of how little I really know my own city that I have lived in for over 14 years. The past couple weeks I have been reading a book that was assigned to us by my a.p. english teacher called A Walk Across America by Peter Jenkins. In short, its an autobiographical novel from Peter's perspective about his walk across the United States. He came to this extreme but necessary action after he realized how bad off he thought his country was. He had been through alot of rough times himself, and thought that the only thing in the news was the latest bombing, assasination of a world leader, or outburst or rioting in the cities. Peter wanted to pack up and move to another country. But a wise old friend told him that this was the best country in the world, and that if he thought that all this going on is something new, then he was in for a surprise. Peter then decided to give this country and its people one last chance by working and walking his way across it.

Peter met many people along the way that he might not even have looked twice at before his journey. At the time he was criticized for talking and living with some of the diverse social classes and ethinic groups that were chastized at the time. Around mine, and everyones hometown, there are long forgotten neighborhoods and sectors that you don't even reailze exist. The community I was driving through the other day made me realize how lucky many of us truely are. Many of their few roomed houses sheltered people numbering six or more, and sometimes more than one family. Their cars were rusted and anything but the newest and latest model of a toyota 4-Runner which is a common occurence in the roads surrounding my home.Depite this, all the children that ran and played outside looked genuinely happy. I felt at home just driving down the street, even without ever talking to many of the smiling faces that I waved to. What I don't understand is why our city spends millions in building new shopping centers and restaurants when theres people who can barely afford two meager meals a day. Many of the churches around here focus on sending youth groups and missionaries hundreds or thousands of miles away to impoverished nations. As great of an opportunity as those are, we often are immune to our own surroundings. We drive a certain route to avoid the "bad" parts of town, we put off donations to local organizations or events, and even when someone we wouldn't normally associate with are in need, we turn the other way pretending not to notice. However, if a member of your church family was in an accident or struck by some sort of tragedy or disease, you and the rest of the community would do any and everything you could to raise money to support them. Maybe we need to take a look at our own surroundings like Peter did his. Maybe instead of taking a Walk Across America, we could start by taking a walk across our own city.

P.S.- I have finally decided on my summer project :)