Stop, smell the roses. Talk to God while you're at it, too.

Thursday 09.30.10

As I grabbed my breakfast and headed to the computer to check my emails this morning, I looked out my window and couldn't help notice how beautiful it was outside. So, instead of sitting my butt in front of the screen, I took myself, my plate of cheesy eggs, and my hot cup of coffee out on the front porch to enjoy the cool air. It was a different way to start my morning. Wonderful, but different. I wasn't thinking about everything I needed to get done today, I was't stressing out about difficult situations, and I wasn't worrying about my upcoming tests. It was just me and God.

It's been a while since I just talked to God. Sure, I pray all the time, "God, guide me through the day. Bless this person. Protect that person. Give me patience. Help me pass this test. Etc." But it can all seem so demanding sometimes. I'm talking about sitting down and conversing with Him. Not throwing all your needs on Him and then getting on with your day, but actually taking the time to hear what He's got to say for once. It was a really cool, to say the least. I knew He was there, I could feel Him working in my heart.

For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. I knew that He was working. Something about just sitting there enjoying His creation led me to realize that I do not have to worry. He can control how fast the grass grows, whether or not the birds will find food, or if it will be hot or cool, like it was this morning. If He manages all that, why do I worry so much? It's irrational, really. He's got this. I have nothing to fear. 

What's humbling is, it's not that He has to manage my life. It's not an obligation for Him to protect me, to guide me, or to give me a purpose. He does it because He wants to, because He loves me. He likes me. Me. God likes me.

That fact blows my mind more than anything else in the world.

Dead Shoes.

Wednesday 09.29.10

Here is a lovely example of what your shoes should look like while you dance, and what your shoes will look like when you need a new pair. Laura has long passed the point of needing a new pair. (Her legs are the white ones in case you were wondering. You know, with the shoes that have no support and could snap her ankle at any moment.) She got them back in August when she and I went out of town to dance with Alabama Dance Theatre. Aaand they're already dead. This girl spends way too much time dancing. I'm not sure if she ever does anything else, actually. It's a little scary. But I love her to death. Therefore, I beg you, Laura: get a new pair. You're going to kill yourself.

For all you who don't have a clue why I'm incessantly rambling on like an idiot about a pair of shoes, let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up: when you see a girl walking down the street wearing 6 inch stiletto's, your initial thought is, "just watch, she's going to snap her ankle any second.." Now imagine her walking down the street in those stiletto's.. but without the heel. Yes, they'd support her arch, which would stabilize her ankle, but she'd still need an immense amount of strength in her ankles to keep from breaking them. What if the arch of the stiletto lost its stability? Well, then you're really screwed. Just like my dear friend, Laura.

If I'm still making no sense, then forgive me for this rant. I'm done.

PS, if none of you caught my Princess Bride reference, you clearly haven't watched it enough. Drop whatever activity you had planned tonight, order a pizza and watch that movie.

Pronto.

Photo Update (:

Tuesday 09.28.10

My 14 year old brother had a Boy Scout function last night that my family went to (I went for the food). Conveniently, it's located in the Cove, which is probably my favourite part of town. As soon as I got a chance, I slipped outside to longboard a bit.

First, I haven't longboarded since spring break. You have no idea how good it felt to be back on Betty (in case you don't know me very well, I have a tendency to name all of my belongings).

Second, have you been outside in the past two days?! It's like God finally fixed the AC or something. It is beeeeautifuuuul.

Anyway, after a while, my other little brother found me longboarding outside and wanted to give it a go. So I got to have a bit of bonding time with that little dude teaching him how to longboard. He's pretty much a beast at it.

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Monday 09.27.10

After a horrifically grueling night of dance (insert sarcasm: dance was ridiculously unchallenging due to a sub teacher that belongs teaching five year olds...asdfghjkl), my friend, Val, came over to study with me. We both plan on taking the CPT for Gulf Coast within the next few weeks so we figured we'd study together and help each other out.

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Sunday 09.26.10

Due to some inconvenient schedule changes in Victoria's classes, she is now a bit behind in math class, so she has a crap load of homework she has to catch up on. Plus, her teacher randomly decided to go Africa for two weeks, which didn't help her out much either. So here she sits: at a table in the back room of our church before Burning House, recruiting every engineer, doctor, scientist, any sort of math whiz, or anyone in general she could find who could help her figure out her geometry. I'm pretty sure all of Eastgate had attempted to assist her by the end of the night.

Photos of the weeeeeek.

Alright. Here's my week. I'd like to be able to put these pictures up on they day they are taken..but with all the freaking homework I have, I don't exactly have time to sit around and do miscellaneous stuff like vanquish Pokemon creatures or read haikus, let alone tweak with pictures and write on this blog every day. I'll try to do this as often as possible, time allowing, but you may end up just getting a weekly slew of these. Who knows..we'll see.

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Saturday 09.25.10

This is Paco: more commonly known as Lauren. But to me, she is Paco. Always will be.

She's pretty much a sweetheart and hanging with her is always a blast.

And no, she is not Mexican. Not even close.

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Friday 09.24.20

Unlike the majority of other girls my age, I do not spend my Friday nights out partying or flirting with boys. For the most part, I don't even go out to hang with my girls. I hang with these kids.

(L-R: Isaac, Chloe, Kaeli, Lilly, and Abigail)

They're probably my five favourite little buddies, like, ever. My Friday evenings usually consist of Mac N' Cheese (or frozen pizza or something completely unhealthy like that), movies, and games that involve me being an evil dinosaur that chases small children around trying to turn them into mini evil dinos by gobbling on their limbs. Yeah, there's never a dull moment with these boogers. Ever.

Tonight was especially fun since I brought them all McDonalds, which is about as unhealthy as it gets. Don't worry, I apologized to their parents ahead of time for poisoning them. After we chowed down on our greasy feast while watching Hoodwinked, we all had a grand time making sugar cookies. Once I got their systems completely filled with sugar, I chased them around the house growling like a maniac. It was fantastic. I love Fridays. <3

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Thursday 09.23.10

Our neighbours down the street got away for about a day and a half to celebrate their anniversary, so their kids camped out at our house while they were gone. But of course, every time this family ever does anything, their devil dog, Daisy, gets sent here to drive me mad. If I were to hate anything, the list would look something like this:

1. Hypocritical/arrogant behaviour

2. Bananas

3. Daisy

The best part is (yes, this is dripping with sarcasm), Daisy thinks I'm her best friend. So I can never get rid of her. ahsjkg;dhsja. Kill me now.

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Wednesday 09.22.10

You have no idea how difficult it is to stand on pointe and take a picture of it at the same time. It was an interesting sight, for sure.

These are what my dad likes to call "The Cruel Shoes". Looks can be deceiving, my friend. These are not dainty little ballet shoes. Far, farrrr from it. Aside from completely chopping off your feet, this is probably the most morbid thing you could make your feet endure. Five minutes in these and your feet feel like they've been run over by a semi. Thirty, and you've got bloody, painful open blisters. Just lovely, isn't it? 

Yes, I am over exaggerating just a tad, but you get the pointe.

Hahaha, ballet pun. I am retarded. 

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Tuesday 09.21.10

Meet Coleman. I babysit this kid and his precious baby sister every Tuesday while their mom teaches a dance class. Let me tell you, this boy is going to be one lady killuh when he's older. He's freaking adorable, he's a little sweetheart, he's a complete genius, and he's probably the most stylish kid around. Fo'real, check out that get up!

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Monday 09.20.10

Yes, I am aware there is no picture here. No, there hasn't been a technical difficulty. I didn't get around to getting any good shots. Actually, I didn't even touch my camera. I had so much going on this day I didn't even think about it. It hasn't even been a week of this project and I've already failed. (sighs) Story of my life.

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Sunday 09.19.10

This past Sunday was Surf N Grill, my church's baptism/let's-all-eat-hamburgers-and-get-sunburnt service. It's a ton of fun. You should try it sometime.

Since this was the first day I truly got a chance to use my camera, I was kind of in everyone's face. I apologize if I was completely annoying, I was just a tad excited to play with my new toy.

Voldemort!

This afternoon I sat down at my computer to check some emails and noticed the photo booth application was open, so I clicked on it to find a billion videos made by my crazy little siblings. This, apparently, is what they do in their free time when mom's not around. Made me giggle.

We'll see how this goes..

  A kid I know started this project back in January taking a picture a day for the whole year. As I creepishly stalked his daily Facebook photo updates, I was continually inspired by his creativity and wanted to do something similar. I had my birthday a couple weeks ago and I decided to use my birthday money/money I've been saving up to buy myself a Canon XS to help utilize my skill. Or, lack thereof.

 So, here I am: copying this kid's project (even though I'm starting over 3/4 of the way through the year), and adding snippets of random things that occur in my life and miscellaneous thoughts that run through my head. Granted, I won't be nearly as creative, and my writing won't be anything near eloquence, but this is just a bit of me sharing me with you. If that makes any sense at all.

 I'm still trying to figure out this whole blogging deal, so things look a bit rough right now. Plus as a high school student, I don't exactly have the free time to sit arount and tweak with these sorts of things. So just bear with me. Perhaps some day I'll be able to organize my insanity.