"Prayer for Expressing Gratitude"

Today was a tiring day with the big "camp-out" we put together for the kids. We had parents bring in tents and sleeping bags for the kids, and we set the tents up outside. It was a fun day where we went on a nature hike, roasted marshmallows, grilled out hot dogs, and napped outside in the tents. It was great fun for the children. It also happened to be the last day of school for all the kids. It was hard to say good-bye to the ones that were leaving us not only for the Summer, but especially those that left us and are moving on to the bigger and more exciting world of kindergarten. Watching those kids grow up and help teach them not only their letters and how to count and right their name and all the "pre-school" work, but also helping them learn how to treat others with kindness and help them when they got hurt and holding them when they were missing their mommies or daddies... You get really close to those kids, and because of that it is sad when you have to let them go and saying good-bye is a bitter-sweet moment. So I was feeling a little bit down about that and then I found this booklet with different prayers in it, and one of the one's I happened to stop and read was the one I really needed to see... I am very grateful God allowed me to play such an important role in the lives of those children... Anyway, I thought I would put the prayer here because it is one that everyone could probably do well with knowing.

Prayer for Expressing Gratitude

Gracious God, in the busyness of my day, I sometimes forget to stop to thank You for all that is good in my life. My blessing are many and my heart is filled with gratefulness for the gift of living, for the ability to love, and to be loved, for the opportunity to see the everyday wonders of creation, for sleep and water, for a mind that thinks and a body that feels. I thank You, too, for those things in my life that are less than I would hope them to be. Thinkgs that seem challenging, unfair, or difficult. When my heart feels stretched and empty and pools of tears form in my weary eyes, still I rejoice that You are as near to me as my next breath and that in the midst of turbulence, I am growing and learning. In the silence of my soul, I thank You most of all for Your unconditional and eternal love.
Amen.

"The Christian Alphabet"

I found this in a booklet my mom handed to me to look through. I thought it was kind of cute and so I am putting it here....

The Christian Alphabet

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame.
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able.
Hold on to what you know.
Imagine life without His love.
Joy would cease to be.
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee.
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone.
Quit looking at the future.
Redeem the time at hand.
Start every day with worship.
To "thank" is a command.
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
eXalting God most high.
Yes, there will be good times and yes, some will be bad, but
Zion waits in glory, where none are ever sad.

R.I.P. Fr. Charlie

Today happens to be the first anniversary of a dear priest and friend, Fr. Charlie. He was the priest that gave me my first Communion, the one I went to for my first confession, and the one that was there for my Confirmation. I remember when I went in for my interview before I got Confirmed very well. I remember sitting down with him, and he looked at me and said "Oh yes, you're a McConnell. You're Danny and Suzanne's daughter," and then he smiled at me and told me, "Now, don't tell you're other two sisters, but I think you've ended up being the prettiest one out of the three." Now, whether he was just being nice or he was really telling me the truth, I still don't know, but I remember feeling happy hearing that from Fr. Charlie, but then again, he always liked to brag about having the "best looking parish." Anyway, back to the interview.... I remember he asked me what I wanted to do with my life, and when I told him I was wanting to go to college to become a teacher, I remember he got the biggest smile on his face. He said, "You know, I've watched you help out with those kids during c.c.d. classes, and let me tell you, I wouldn't have picked a better job for you myself. I think that is just great, and I was hoping you'd say that." Hearing someone other than my parents say that helped solidify what I wanted to do with my life. He was a great priest, and I still miss him a lot...

Tonight, in honor of him, a group of us went out to eat at a favorite restaurant of his called "Chapman's." Interestingly enough, I was the youngest one at that table, but it did not bother me so much. I enjoyed hearing other stories about Fr. Charlie, and it was a nice way to remember him.

The Soundtrack of My Life....

Recently I was asked by a friend of mine what my favorite song ever was, and seeing as how I like so many many many songs, I had a hard time answering that question. Probably harder than I should have. So I answered back with three songs that I truly do love, but I realized thinking back on those answers I have so many favorites that I like equally as much, and so I decided to put them here on my blog, so here we go....



My favorite all-time "love" song: Most definitely with out a doubt, "I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing" by Aerosmith. Such an amazing song.

Favorite "get up and dance" song: "Man! I Feel Like A Woman!" by Shania Twain.

Favorite "loving life/ blast in the car with the windows down and music blaring" song:This is a tie between "Days Go By" by Keith Urban or "Life is a Highway" (the Rascal Flatts version)

Favorite "when I'm feeling down" song: Again this is a tie between "Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban and "How to Save A Life" by the Fray

Favorite "When I'm angry with the world" song: Again a tie between "Welcome to My Life" by Simple Plan and "Not Ready to Make Nice" by The Dixie Chicks

Favorite "oldies" song: Most definitely "My Girl" by the Temptations.

Favorite "sweet" song: A tie between "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle and "I Loved Her First" by Heartland.

Songs that always make me cry: "On Eagle's Wings," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland, and "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill

Favorite "Friendship" songs: This is a three-way-tie between "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts and "I Will Remember You" by Ryan Cabrera, and "Graduation" by Vitamin C.

Favorite "Take on the World" song: A tie between "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi and "If You're Going Through Hell" by Rodney Atkins

Favorite "break-up" song: "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie

Favorite "Patriotic" songs: This is a tie between "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood and "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" by Toby Keith

Favorite "Crush" song: This is a three-way-tie between "Fearless" by Taylor Swift, "All About You" by McFly, and "I Knew I Loved You" by Savage Garden

Favorite "How I Feel About Relationships" song: A tie between"I Do Not Hook Up" by Kelly Clarkson and "Single" by Natasha Beddingfield

Favorite "Praise and Worship song: A tie between "Draw Me Close" and "Here I Am to Worship"

Favorite "Christian" song: A tie between "Empty and Beautiful" by Matt Maher and "Are You Amazed" by Bob Rice

This last one is more of a song of my all-time favorite band ever, and because I am such a huge fan of their music, I decided to give them their own category...

Favorite "Beatles" song: "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"

Kid's Say the Darndest Things #3

Chelsie: Miss Emily, are you coming to my house soon to play?

Emily: Chelsie, I can't because I don't know where you live.

Chelsie: Ummm. I think I live in ...... Indianananapolisss

Emily: I don't think you live in Indianapolis, I think you actually live in Bloomington.

Chelsie: See? You do know where I live. Just look for the house with the red car with the bird poop all over it, and that's where I live.
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Chelsie: ( singing) Sunday to Monday to Tuesday To Wednesday to Thursday to Friday To Sunday to Monday to

Me: Umm... Chelsie, you forgot Saturday.

Chelsie: Oh I'll start over, and she sings her song again.

Me: Chlesie you forgot Saturday again.

Chelsie: Oh! darn it! I'll never get it right. (and ends with a dramatic sigh)
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Charlie: Mommy, what is your job?

Charlie's Mom: I'm a school teacher.

Charlie: Uh uh mommy. You're not a school teacher. Miss Teresa and Miss Irelli are school teachers. You're just a mommy.
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Jeff: Hey, Miko, where in the world are your listening ears today?

Miko: Well, umm. they got lost up in the trees.

Jeff: They got lost up in the trees..... Now how did they get lost up in the trees?

Miko: Well, you see, the birds, they, they came down, and they, they pecked them off my ears and took them up in the trees, Mr. Jeff.

Jeff: Well you better go find a way to bring them back down and put them back on, Miko, before you get into more trouble, boy.

Miko: But I can't Mr. Jeff. When they took them up into the trees they pecked them into little itty bitty pieces and there are just too many parts to find.


(Yes, kids imaginations are very interesting.........;) )
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(This one came from my very silly and cute nephew, Isaiah.)

Isaiah: Hey Crista, have you ever been to food world?

Crista:No, I've never even heard of it.

Shane: Have you ever been to Mario World?

Isaiah: Yes, I have! It's in the Phillippines. I've been to the Philippines.


(As you you can guess, no, he has never visited the Philippines. I didn't even know he knew about the Philippines...)

Advice on Womanhood

"If you can trust yourself though others doubt you
and conquer fears that limit what you dare
so you can then enrich the world about you
with skills and talents that are yours to share;


If you enjoy both quiet introspection
and festive times with friends and family.
if you make time for dreaming and reflection
but still find joy in others' company;


If you can balance dreams with practicality
and deal in facts but never lose ideals,
if you can face the harshness of reality
and find the truths that prejudice conceals;


If you can be courageous when defeated
and humble in the face of victory
of give your best until a task's completed,
however difficult that task may be;


If you can be sincere when giving credit
and work at building bridged and not walls
or stive to reach a prize until you get it,
yet never fail to help someone who falls...


If you can temper facts with understanding
and manage well the thinks in your control
and neither be too lax nor too demanding
but keep in mind the worth of every soul;


If you can reach objectives, not begrudging
the patience, time, and effort you impart,
and look at others' actions without judging
and see not with your eyes but with your heart;


If you can take resources that surround you
and use them in the way you feel is good,
you'll be successful...and all those around you
will be the richer for your womanhood."

~Barbera Burrow~

A Tale of Pearl Ear Rings

Tonight I was blessed to be able to talk to a very old and dear friend. I have known this person since I was twelve, and she is now up in Rhode Island. As we talked I asked her how her visit with her family was. She told me about how the very first thing she did after she got off the plane was spend three hours with her father as he was looking for a present for his wife (her mom) for their 25th wedding anniversary. She told me that what he wanted to by his wife for this special occasion was special pearl ear rings that matched the pearl necklace he bought her for their wedding. They spent so much time in the car going from one jewelry shop to another searching for the perfect ear rings. Now this man has always been known for always hating spending extra cash on anything. He would get annoyed when people bought snacks from the store because it was a waste of money. Don't get me wrong, he has his reasons for that because he does have a family of eleven to look after, but the fact that he was willing to spend as much as necessary for the best ear rings really said something. My friend said it was so much fun spending time with her dad and watching him trying to decide on the right ones. Once they were finally home, she told me how annoyed her mom was that they were gone for so long, little did she know why they were gone. I am sure they were forgiven after she saw those ear rings... Hearing that story and knowing how much that couple loves one another even after all that they've been through makes me realize how much I want that. I am also blessed to be able to have two parents who are still very much in love too.
I know that marriage is definitly a hard thing to go through, it will not always be easy and "lovey-dovey" all the time, but even knowing that I still want it so bad. I want to be able to marry someone and have a family with him and deal with the mundane daily life and I want to fight over whose turn it is to take the trash out and help our kids with the homework. I want to end up like one of those old couples you see sitting on benches who just stare while in complete silence because they have been together for so long that they do not need to always talk about everything; they are just perfectly content to "be," together. I know it may sound silly to some, but to me it seems pretty great.

"So You Think You Can Dance" Audtition

"What I Wish I Had Known Sooner"

I found this list while glancing through another one of my old "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books. Even though I am no longer a teenager, I still find some of the stories in the book very interesting, so I'll pull the books out from time to time. I found some of the things on this list pretty amusing and also very true.


What I Wish I had Known Sooner

You don't realize the importance of something not until you lose it.

Don't let your life wait for other people.

Dropping a cell phone into a tub of water kinda kills the phone.

If you wait for the wind you might never sail.

Don't ever fall in love with someone who is more than a thousand miles away from you. It usually doesn't work out!

If it hurts,DON'T DO IT AGAIN!

Speaking in public gets easier with practice.

Zits always pop up when you really can't afford them to!

All that glitters is not gold but all that is gold doesn't glisten.

When in doubt,duck.When certain don't bother because you're already screwed!

While driving through a gate make sure the gate is open otherwise it may prove fatal to your car.

If you sneak out when grounded you are in BIG trouble.

If you're not living really living , you're dead already.

If your teacher says he'll give you zero if you speak again he REALLY means it.

Being nice to people will get you far.

Sometimes smart people can do very, very stupid things.

The person you love is often right in front of you.

Sleeping with your spectacles on isn't a very good idea.

Never, EVER let a member of the opposite sex make you compromise your standards.

Nothing is ever too good to be true.[said by Micheal Faraday]

If you like a girl, it is certain her roomate likes you.

Parents aren't around forever so treasure them while they are.

If you tease a geek you'll end up marrying one.

Don't take the SAT twice if you already have a good score.

Never do something if the risk is greater then the reward.

Think before you act.

Look before you leap. ( one that i always fail to remember!)

Dreaming and doing go hand in hand.

Life moves fast but not so fast that you can't slow down to enjoy it.

Instead of waiting for life to get better, do something to make it better.

Procrastination is the easiest way but not the most profitable.

Cereal is a vital staple food for all college students. who cares how ridiculous you look eating it 7 pm?

If he doesn't respect you he isn't worth any of your time.(again i always fail to remember this?!)

If at first you don't suceed, then try again then quit no use being a damn fool about it!

Always give everything in your life a try or you'll be left saying if only i had done that!

Sticking things up your nose isn't the smarteset idea in the world.

You can't light fireworks in your basement and not get caught.

Never ever trust your friend with a pair of scissors against yor hair.

God doesn't make junk.

Someday you will look back on this and it will all seem funny.

You never know when you're making a memory.

The heart does heal and you will love like this again--only when you do you'll deny ever loving like this before.

Nothing matters if you don't have loved ones to share it with. Your siblings are incredibly precious. If you don't know this now you will!

If you can laugh at yourself , you're going to be fine. If you allow others to laugh with you you'll be great! Trust me!

Isolation is good but it's not the best!

Kissing is the most fun thing. Dancing is almost as fun.

Enjoy life while you still can.

Everything makes a difference. No matter how much you "Don't care about it."

Dreams never die they just hibernate.

There's a victory after every loss!

When things change no matter what we do it can never be the same.

Parting is such a sweet sorrow.[said by William Shakespear]

Worrying doesn't help. It worsens the problem.

Fear is sometimes our best friend.

Hope is not victory.

Our lives always go on , it those who die theirs stop.

Change is always good but who said it was easy.

If you dare to dream have the courage to complete them.

Make a place in this world before you leave it.

Only you can make yourself happy!

Studying is a waste of time!

It becomes an illusion just when you begin to think it may be real.

Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans!

An empty day though clear and bright is just as dark as any night.

your relatives will always taunt you till you get an Aplus!

Suicide is not a remedy.

The only risk in life is not taking one.

The world is different!

All sorrows can be borne if you tell a story about them.

Others teach we learn.

There's alot in this world to care about.

"Myself"

This came from an e-mail I received from a friend... I really liked it and so I am sharing it with you all. I always try to keep my actions towards others with the following question in mind; "If I saw someone else act this same way would I want to be friends with them?" For the most part I would have to say the answer to the above question would be yes, but occasionally I do some stupid and thoughtless things and feel just awful afterwords, and think to myself, "No I probably would not want to be that person's friend, so why would another person want to be mine at this moment?" It kind of keeps my actions and how I treat others in line. That's just me though.

Myself

I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to be able as days go by
Always to look myself straight in the eye.
I don't want to stand, with the setting sun,
And hate myself for things I have done.
I don't want to keep on a closet shelf
A lot of secrets about myself,
And fool myself, as I come and go,
Into thinking that nobody else will know
The kind of person I really am;
I don't want to dress myself up in a sham.
I want to go out with my head erect,
I want to deserve all man's respect;
And here in the struggle for fame and wealth,
I want to be able to like myself.
I don't want to look at myself and know
That I am a bluffer, an empty show.
I can never hide myself from me:
I see what others may never see,
I know what others may never know.
I never can fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and guilt-free.

Genetics and Sneezing

Growing up, whenever I had to sneeze but could not, my mother would always tell me to look at the sun and it will help. Well, today while at work I had to sneeze and it would not come so I looked up at the sun and withing like five seconds I sneezed. One of my friends from work caught me doing that and asked me if I knew that looking up at the sun and sneezing happens to be a genetic thing. I have never heard that before, so I became curious and looked it up on the internet, and sure enough, she was right. It's called sun-sneezing, and apparently only 25% of all people are able to sun-sneeze. I also learned that if I have kids, about half of mine will probably be able to sun-sneeze too. If you really are interested to learn more, you can find the article here.

"I Will"

There is a song called, "I Will" by Jimmy Wayne. It has slowly started to become a favorite of mine... If you really truly loved someone then you do want them to be happy more then anything, even if it's not with you. It's the greatest sacrifice in love, letting that person go while always hoping that one day they come back, and yet finding a way to still be happy for them even if they do decide not to come back to you....

I Will
Jimmy Wayne

So you're the one
I've waited on
the one I've been dreamin' of
Now that I know
It's hard to let go
I don't wanna lose your love

But what can I do
I can't make you stay here
But if you should choose to go your own way
Wherever you're goin'
Whenever you turn
Remember this moment
Remember these words
I will, I will

Give up my life for you
if you want it
I'll give you my heart
you already own it
I'll do anything
I'll go anywhere
It's true
I will, I will, I will

I look in your eyes
And I see our life
so full of happiness
do you see the same
just someone you'll blame
for things you might have missed

I don't wanna weigh you down
like an anchor
but if that's how you see me now
I would rather let you go free
Just sail away
If that's what you need
If that's what it takes
I will, I will

Give up my life for you
if you want it
I'll give you my heart
you already own it
I'll do anything
I'll go anywhere
It's true
I will, I will, I will

If there is ever a day
you feel you need someone to
steal you, feel you, hold you
I will
If you ever need to talk to
somebody who really knows you
Oh yes I will

ah ha

Give up my life for you
if you want it
I'll give you my heart
you already own it
I'll do anything
I'll go anywhere
It's true
I will, I will, I will

I will...love you

"Remember Me?"

One problem I happen to always have to work more on is not gossiping about other people; especially when it come to the people I work with. I try hard not to be the one gossiping about things, but every so often I catch myself doing just that. I happened to find an interesting poem and I keep it in my room. I try to read it every so often to remind myself what gossiping can do to someone's reputation....

Remember Me?

My name is Gossip.
I have no respect for justice.
I maim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives.
I am cunning, malicious, and gather strength with age.
The more I am quoted, the more I am believed.
I flourish at every level of society.
My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves
against me because I have no name and no face.
To track me down is impossible. The harder you try, the
more elusive I become.
I am nobody's friend.
Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same.
I topple governments and wreck marriages. I ruin
careers and cause sleepless nights, heartaches, and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief. I make innocent
people cry in their pillows. Even my name hisses.
I am called GOSSIP. Office gossip-Shop gossip- Party gossip-
Telephone gossip. I make headlines and
headaches. REMEMBER, before you repeat a story, ask
yourself: it is true? Is it fair? Is it necessary??? If not, do not
repeat it. KEEP QUIET!
GREAT minds discuss ideas.... Average minds discuss
events... Shallow minds discuss people... Which are you?

The next tempting tax product is......

I just finished reading an article that talks all about how the next most probable thing that our president will begin taxing will be sugar-sweetened beverages. This could include all Coke,Pepsi, Gatorade, Red Bull, and any other sugar-sweetened beverages... I am now glad that water happens to be something I really do enjoy drinking, I will miss drinking Dr. Pepper as much though if they do decide to tax all those beverages... You can read more about it all if you click here.

Christianity vs. Buddhism

I had such a busy week-end with my birthday party and all. I had such a blast hanging out with my friends and celebrating my birthday and all that fun stuff...

I really am not wanting to talk about all of that in this post though... I kind of want to talk more about an incident that happened while it was early in the morning and my sister's boyfriend, while pretty drunk, decided to begin a religious debate. You see, my sister's boyfriend is not really religious whatsoever. He claims to believe in some "higher power," but not necessarily in God and the christian religions. Well seeing as how the majority of my friends there that night were Catholic, you can only imagine how interesting and frustrating a debate can get when you begin it around 2 a.m. in the morning with people tipsy and not really prepared for something like that. My sister's boyfriend for some reason brought up how Catholicism was not the first religion out there and how Buddhism was a lot older. Now, at the time I was not totally in the right state of mind, but I do remember pointing out to him that no, Catholicism was not the first religion out there, but it was the first CHRISTIAN religion, which was totally different than Buddhism. I also was frustrated with myself the next day when I thought more about how even though Buddhism may have started before christian religions, it was also started in a total different area, geographically, than where Jesus lived and taught, and not only that, but how Judaism (which obviously believes in God) was the first religion, I am pretty sure, that started with the creation and Jesus, Himself, was born and raised a Jew.

Anyway, not being able to defend my faith the way I should have the next day I did some research on Buddhism. Buddhism happens to be an offspring of Hinduism. No one seems to be exactly sure of the date when Buddhism began, but most of the sights I have looked through all seem to agree it began somewhere in the fifth century B.C. (somewhere between 500 B.c.-599 B.C.) There is one website I found very helpful while looking info up, and you can find it here. One part I found interesting from the website, is put below...

One thing that did come out of this "debate" is that I decided I really need to study even more about not only what my faith fully believes and why, but also the viewpoints of other religions in case something like this comes up again. I am grateful to have a father who is so interested in this kind of stuff that he has a lot of information around the house for us to read, and I intend to do more of that.

A Comparative Study of Christianity and Buddhism

It is quite clear that Christianity and Buddhism differ from one another in fundamental ways. Some sects of Buddhism have tried to synchronize the two together. However, the two are so different, they cannot both be right at the same time, nor can the two be blended together. Here is a comparison of these two religions.

Much of the Buddhist scriptures and sayings attributed to Gautama were written about four hundred years after his death. By the time they were written, Buddhism had split into many sects. What do we have then? Even the best scholars are not sure of the accuracy of the Buddhist scriptures. In Christianity, however, we have an accurate historical account written by eyewitnesses to Jesus and the events surrounding His life.

The two differ in their concept of God. For Buddhists in general, the Absolute does not play a vital role in daily living. Gautama said little about his concept of God. Buddha denied the existence of a personal God but was monistic in his view of the Absolute as an impersonal force made up of all living things. The Bible teaches of a God who rules the universe, and cares for man in a personal way. Psalm 46:10 states, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth."

It is clear that Buddha never claimed to be deity. Although several sects have elevated him to athe status of a god, he clearly claimed to be only the way-shower to Nirvana. Jesus, however, claimed to be God and not simply a way-shower but instead the only way to eternal life. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 1:1 also states, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

There is another clear distinction between these two religions. Buddhism offers neither assurance of forgiveness or eternal life. Buddhists hope to enter into the state of Nirvana, but there is no clear, objective proof or teaching on what occurs beyond the grave. Even Buddha himself was not certain what lay beyond death. He left no clear teaching on Nirvana or eternity. What he did leave are philosophical speculations. Today the body of Buddha lies in a grave in Kusinara, at the foot of the Himalaya Mountains. The facts of life after death still remain an unsolved mystery in Buddhism.

In Christianity we have One who amazed His audience because He taught eternal truths with authority. His authority came from the fact that He existed before creation, and He proved His claims by rising from the dead. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a proven fact of history and clearly demonstrates Christ's authority over sin and death. When witnessing to a Buddhist, ask him this: "Do you have tangible proof of what occurs after death?" All the Buddhist has is hope in a teaching Buddha was not sure of. As Christians, we have a certain hope in a risen Savior. There is no guessing what happens beyond the grave because Christ alone has conquered the grave.

"I Am"

This past week with being surrounded by friends and family all week for my birthday, I took the time out to reflect on the past twenty-two years of my life. I think I have accomplished quite a few things that I've set out to do, and still there are more goals left to work towards. I was looking through one of my old Chicken Soup for the Soul books and I found this one story which kind of went along with my own thoughts about all that I've done so far. It made me realize that even though a person may have an "official" job title, they should not label themselves as only that position... I put the little story below, and I think you will be able to see what I mean...

I Am
by Amy Yerkes

I am an architect: I've built a solid foundation, and each year I go to that school I add another floor
of wisdom and knowledge.
I am a sculptor: I've shaped my morals and philosophies according to the clay of right and wrong.
I am a painter: With each new idea I express, I paint a new hue in the world's multitude of colors.
I am a scientist: Each day that passes by I gather new data, make important observations, and experiment with new concepts and ideas.
I am an astronaut: Constantly exploring and broadening my horizons.
I am a doctor: I heal those who turn to me for consultation and advice, and I bring out the vitality in those who seem lifeless.
I am a lawyer: I'm not afraid to stand up for the inevitable and basic rights of myself and all others.
I am a police officer: I always watch out for others' welfare and I am always on the scene preventing fights and keeping the peace.
I am a teacher: By my example others learn the importance of determination, dedication, and hard work.
I am a mathematician: Making sure I conquer each one of my problems with correct solutions.
I am a detective: Peering through my two lenses, searching for meaning and significance in the mysteries of life.
I am a jury member: Judging others and their situations only after I've heard and understood the entire story.
I am a banker: Others share their trust and values with me and never lose interest.
I am a hockey player: Watching out for and dodging those who try to block my goal.
I am a marathon runner: Full of energy, always moving and ready for the next challenge.
I am a mountain climber: Slowly but surely, I am making my way up to the top.
I am a right-rope walker: Carefully and stealthily I place my self through every rough time, but I always make it safely to the end.
I am a millionaire: Rich in love, sincerity, and compassion, and I own a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, experience, and insight that is priceless.
Most important, I am ME!

Funny Birthday Card

I received the funniest birthday card from a friend of mine. Even my close friend who is guy ended up laughing at this one, and he NEVER laughs at these kinds of jokes.

"One day in the Garden of Eden Eve calls out to God-
'Oh, Lord, I am so lonely, bored, and tired of apples!'
God replies, 'Well in that case, I shall give you a MAN."
'What's a MAN?' asks Eve.
'A man will be a flawed creature but will provide you with
hours of amusement. And, as he won't be too smart,
you'll need to do most of the thinking for him'
'Okay... What's the catch?' says Eve.
'The catch,' says God, 'is that he'll be proud and cocky
so you'll need to let him believe I made HIM first! So
just remember, it's our little secret..."

Birthdays are always fun. :)

Yesterday was a nice day for me. It should have been since it was my birthday, after all. Really though, it was a good one! I spent most of my day at work where I received many birthday hugs, and heard the birthday song sung to me multiple times. I loved hearing it each and every time. The kids were just to precious trying to sing it, and many of them did not know how to pronounce all the words and that made them all even more endearing! The little girls decided they wanted to give me a birthday make-over, so I had to sit still for awhile as they "fixed" my hair and did my make-up and nails... As long as they had fun and were happy was all that mattered to me. Messy hair was a small sacrifice to see them have so much fun. The boys all decided they would make me "birthday cakes" all day long. They all listened very well and were great at following directions for me too. If only they would do that everyday for me instead of just on my birthday...
Anyway, after work I went to mass which was a nice way of calming down and a good way of thanking God for a pretty good 22 years of life. Once mass was over and I got a quick our to go home and freshen up before I went to a confirmation catechist meeting. I actually did not want to go to that meeting at all for my birthday, but after my friend said he'd buy me a drink afterwords, I agreed. It was nice to spend time with him, and the place we ended up going to was pretty much empty and nice and quiet which was what I wanted since I would have to deal with a more loud party tomorrow night.... about fifteen to twenty friends of mine are all going to go bowling with me, and then after that I'll meet a few more at a local bar. It should be fun, and I am very much looking forward to it. I will probably blog about that eventually.... Until then, I should get off and start a load of laundry.

Heart-stopping moment

Today was a very stressful day for me. Starting off mornings with a fight with my mother is never ever fun, and kinda dampened the rest of the day. Little did I know that I would totally forget about after another unexpected event was about to happen to me....

Today, while waiting for my last child to get picked up I had the biggest scare of my life. My older sister came to see me at the daycare, and at first I thought she was really mad at me for something because the first thing she said to me when I saw her was, "I need to talk to you now ALONE!" and the look she gave me when she said that was one of the scariest faces I had ever seen from her. I began to wonder what in the world I had done to her to make her so angry with me. I followed her into the hall where she asked me if anyone had brought Isaiah down to the daycare from school, and since no one had done that before I kinda looked at her with a confused look and told her no they had not brought him down to me. I asked her why she came to ask me that, and then that's when she informed me that Isaiah was missing. I gotta tell you, when I heard those words and they finally registered in my brain I felt as though my heart had stopped beating. I looked at her and started asking her all sorts of questions about when he went missing, where she'd looked, why hadn't anyone called me before now, and other questions like that. Maria said she'd been searching all over the place trying to find him for about an hour, after she had gone to pick him up from the Boys and Girls club and they informed her he was never dropped off there. She was just about to go down to the after care in hopes that he'd be there. When I went back to my class room I must have looked really bad because everyone wanted to know what was wrong, so I told them my nephew was missing and I needed to leave to go help find him. My boss told me I could leave and I immediately went to go find my sister. When I was out in the parking lot my youngest nephew started calling my name, and I turned and looked at him. He had been crying quite a bit and said he was scared for Isaiah. I did not want to leave him alone while he was so worried so I stayed with him in the car while I waited for Maria to show back up. About 10 minutes later my oldest nephew, Jordan, cam out of the school and I asked him if Isaiah was there and he said yes he was. I can't tell you the relief I felt hearing those words, and I asked Jordan to stay with Aaron while I went to see Isaiah and give him a hug.

Usually after school my nephew and another group of kids who all go to the Boys and Girls club walk together to the school across the street where the bus for the club picks them up. Today, however, there were thunderstorms all day long, and it was just to dangerous for them to walk to the bus, so instead they stayed with the after-care program at the school. I am so grateful that Isaiah was not really hurt or have something really serious happen to him, and it was all a miscommunication thing between my sister and the school! It made it even more fun to hang out with my boys tonight while celebrating my birthday together.

"My Wish"

"My Wish"
Tonight I was working on a project for a friend's graduation surprise his
mom is making for him. In the note I wrote him I decided to put in the
lyrics from a Rascal Flatts song, "My Wish." As I was getting it all ready
for him it reminded me of an youth group meeting we held at our house
one night. A few years ago in our youth group we had one activity we did
which was all about finding God through music. Each of the people that
came to that activity that night were supposed to choose a song to play
that really made them think about God. The song I chose happened to
be "My Wish". Now, at first when I played that song half of the group did
not quite get why I chose that song, but the other half totally got it.
Whenever I hear this song, I like to think of it as God's own little letter
to me about how he hopes my life will turn out. I especially like the line,
"You never need to carry more then you can hold," because really God
does not send us anything He knows we can't handle, and he gives us
the strength to deal with the things that seem to overwhelm us when we
ask Him for it. That's just my take on the song. The lyrics are below if
you care to take a look at them. Who knows, maybe you'll pick up
something different than I did. Enjoy!


My Wish

Rascal Flatts



I hope that days come easy and moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

More then anything, more then anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it,
To your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more then you take.

Oh More then anything, Yeah, and more then anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it,
To your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more then you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

"I Am Yours"

I borrowed this from a friend. I think it is a beautiful poem! Enjoy.

I Am Yours

I am Yours and born for You
What do You want of me?

Yours, You made me
Yours, You saved me
Yours, You endured me
Yours, You called me
Yours, You awaited me
Yours, I did not stray
What do You want of me?

In Your hand
I place my heart
Body, life and soul
Deep feelings and affections mine
Spouse - Redeemer Sweet
Myself offered now to You.
What do You want of me?

Give me wealth or want
Delight or distress
Happiness or gloominess
Heaven or hell
Sweet life, sun unveiled
To You I give all.
What do You want of me?

Yours I am, for You I was born.
What do You want of me?

A Poem by St. Teresa of Avila

Introducing My Boys!

The picture to the left is one of my three favorite boys, my nephews. From right to left; there's Jordan, age 9, Isaiah, age 8, and Aaron, age 6. It's funny because the actions they are showing in this picture happen to show a lot about their personalities....

Jordan, is a great kid, but he is also very quiet. He thinks a lot more about things, but hardly ever wants to talk about it. He's the most serious of the three. Sometimes I wish he would talk more about how he's dealing with all the drama that has happened in his life, but right now he is just not ready to share all that. He's had the hardest time dealing with my older sister's divorce, and sometimes it just kills me with how hard it has been on him. I am sure when he's older and Maria feels ready to share with him all the reasoning behind the divorce he will understand a little more, but until then he's getting through it as best he can. My sister said she found a really good psychiatrist program for him, and I think it will help him immensely!

Isaiah, the one in the middle tends to never listen to anything we tell him. He was born prematurely, and because of that he has had a harder time with picking up on things. He is a little behind with social development and how to properly interact with the kids his age. He spends a lot of time in his own little world and no matter how much you try to get his attention to listen to something important, it usually ends up going through one ear and immediately out the other one. The thing about Isaiah though, is that he is like a teddy bear. He loves to cuddle all the time, and he loves hugs way more than the other two boys do! He's a sweet heart and greatly loved by all!

Then there's Aaron. Aaron does not pay attention to anything around him really. He just does not look where he goes and is clumsy that way, kinda like me! He is the funniest one of the three and is always saying things that always make us laugh. He's also our little "player." He loves the girls, and wherever he goes he spots them and becomes friends with them as soon as he can. He is the biggest little flirt there ever was. Whenever I feel not so pretty or whatever, he always will come up to me and say "Aunt Ti Ti, you're BEEEUUTIFUL!!!!" I love it! It's like having a little ego boost all the time whenever you are around him. He's just to adorable.

So there's a little bit of my nephews, and they are such an important part of my life. Since my sister had them when she was so young she ended up staying here with all of them for quite awhile. I think they have lived here for a good five years, and because of that they are a lot like my little brothers; not just my nephews. I would do anything for these little guys. :)

"Holy Hour"/ Drop-In video promo!

I didn't realize I was so popular.....(not sure I like it either)

Today was one of those days, as a friend put it, "you just want to lay in bed all day and listen to the rain..." So very true. As he said that to me I realized that's where I wanted to be all day, in bed in my pj's while reading a good book and listening to the rain fall on my window. Sadly, I have a life, and so I was not able to do what I really wanted. Instead I went to work and began planning my birthday party or celebration or whatever you wish to call it for the following week-end. I spent my morning before work making the facebook group and after I invited all the friends who mentioned they wanted to hang out with me for my birthday, I realized there were over 40 people on the list.... Hello, what am I supposed to do with 40 people???? Since my parents will be away for the week-end, and I am a responsible child, I was not at all going to invite 40 plus people over and end up wrecking the house, cause that is what would inevitably happen.... Instead, after talking with some friends this past week, I decided I would meet the one's under 21 and go bowling and hang out with them a little bit before I go to a local bar. The lady at the bowling ally kind of laughed when I called to have lanes reserved for my group. I told her I was not positive on the number, but I thought in realily it would probably be somewhere between 20-30 people, but I would call her back later with more of an idea. After I told her the number she told me she understood why I needed to call to reserve lanes since Saturday evening is a busy time for them.In a way though, as much as I love all the people I invited, I kinda hope not all 40 people end up coming because as much as I love my friends, I feel awkward enough as it is being the "center of attention." I really don't like being in the center of attention at all. Even as a kid I hated being called out to do something and have people stare at me, which is kind of funny now since I am studying to be a teacher.... Anyway, so I have a feeling my week will go by fast with all the preparation and what not that will entail. I have a few friends who might come in from out of town and spend the week-end with me, which should be fun! I figure, if God wants me to celebrate my birthday with 40 plus people, so be it...
Another thing I realized about today (Well, I guess it is technically yesterday now.) as I was sitting here typing is that today happens to be the day my older brother died 24 years ago. It's so weird to think how time goes by so fast. I don't feel as though I'm almost 22, but I am, and I am sure my parents don't feel like it's been 24 years since their son died, but it has. It makes a lot more since now why my mom seemed a little side tracked today, that is once I realized the connection of the date and my brother...Isn't it how life works though. Sometimes you realize things just a little too late and you can't really go back and fix it. So that's where my mind's been today, and I am sure to have another random blog tomorrow night after hanging out with my nephews all day! Until then, goodnight ya'll!!!

Field Trip!

Today has felt so much like a Friday rather than a Thursday for me. I think it is because at work we went on a fun field trip with the kids. If only my allergies were not so bad, I probably would have enjoyed the field trip more than I did...We took them to a place called "Pedan Farm." We were very lucky to be able to go this year because we were worried about how the weather would be. If it was going to be raining we did not want to take the children there because of the lack of shelter. I am very glad it turned out to not be too sunny and hot, but it was pretty perfect weather. The only thing we missed out on was the hay ride because it was just to muddy for them to have it open. Instead the kids and teachers all had a fun time getting up close to all the different farm animals there. We got to pet horses and hold baby chicks, goslings, and baby ducks. They were the cutest little things, and the kids had a blast taking turns holding the little babies. I wish I had a camera today so I could have taken pictures of that. We also were able to pet baby cows and a donkey named Henry. I was quite partial to Henry myself. He was so cute! Another cool thing we watched were when the sheep were sheered. It is always fun going on field trips with the children where they can get up close and personal to things they don't normally get to touch and watch every time. They all had a ball!
After work I was able to spend some with my three nephews as well, who I haven't seen in awhile. We played outside with my little sister's new puppy, named Lucy. The best way to describe Lucy is a small little black ball of fur. She is half poodle and half shih-poo. I personally am partial to the bigger dogs and I really really would love to have a lab, but sadly, I happen to have a busy life and don't have time for a dog like that. I have to say though, little Lucy is starting to grow on me. My nephews had a blast playing with her outside and it was a lot of fun to be with them. Whenever I have had a long day those three boys always find a way to make me forget about how tired I am and I love them dearly!

"You know you grew up in the 90's when..."

I found this while messing around on facebook, and it brought back some memories... Man, I had some good times in the 90's...Enjoy!

You're a 90's kid if:

You can sing the rap to "The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fresh-Prince/75083824295

You know that "WOAH" comes from Joey from "Blossom" and that "How Rude!" comes from Stephanie from "Full House"

You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons.

You remember reading "Goosebumps"

You know the profound meaning of "Wax on, wax off"

You took plastic cartoon lunch boxes to school.

You danced to "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, Females: had a new motto, Males: got a whole lot gay-er. (so tell me what you want, what you really really want.)

HELLO....HOT WHEELS!!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hot-Wheels/86334014578

You remember the craze, then the banning of slap bracelets and slam books.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Slap-Bracelets/69511123835

You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence...Not...

Where in the world is Carmen San Diego? was both a game and a TV game show.

You knew that Kimberly, the pink ranger, and Tommy, the green Ranger were meant to be together.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Green-Ranger/74218444455

You remember when super nintendos became popular.

You remember watching home alone 1, 2 , and 3........and tried to pull the pranks on "intruders"

"I've fallen and I can't get up"

You remember boom boxes vs. cd players

You remember New Kids on The Block when they were cool

You knew all the characters names and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saved-By-The-Bell/79961586751

You played and/or collected "Pogs"

You had at least one Tamagotchi, GigaPet or Nano and brought it everywhere

You watched the original Care Bears, My Little Pony, and Ninja Turtles

NANCY DREW AND THE HARDY BOYS WERE THE BEST MYSTERY BOOKS

Yikes pencils and erasers were the stuff!

All your school supplies were "Lisa Frank" brand.(pencils.notebooks.b

inders.etc.)

You remember when the new Beanie Babies were always sold out.

You used to wear those stick on earrings, not only on your ears, but at the corners of your eyes.

You've gotten creeped out by "Are You Afraid of the Dark?"

You know the Macarena by heart.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Macarena/71494498521

"Talk to the hand" ... enough said

You thought Brain would finally take over the world

You always said, "Then why don't you marry it!"

You remember when everyone went slinky crazy.

You remember when razor scooters were cool.



When we were younger:

Before the MySpace frenzy...

Before the Internet & text messaging...

Before Sidekicks & iPods...

Before PlayStation2 or X-BOX...

...Back when you put off the 5 hours of homework you had every night.

When light up sneakers were cool.

When you rented VHS tapes, not DVDs.

When gas was $0.95 a gallon & Caller ID was a new thing.

When we recorded stuff on VCRs & paid $3.50 for a movie.

When we called the radio station to request songs to hear off our walkmans.

When the Chicago Bulls were the best team ever.

Tag.

Get Over Here!!!! means something to you.

Hide-n-Go Seek at dusk.

Red Light, Green Light.

Heads Up 7 Up.

Playing Kickball & Dodgeball until your porch light came on.

Hopskotch.

Tree Houses.

Hula Hoops.

Captain Planet.

Running through the sprinklers.

That "Little Mermaid"

Crying when Mufasa died in the Lion King.

Happy Meals where you chose a Barbie or a Hot Wheels car.

Getting the privilege to sit in the front seat of the car.

Drinking Sqeeze It "Squeeze The Fun Out Of It"

Or what about:

Hey Arnold.

Rugrats.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rugrats/74504773843

The Secret World of Alex Mac.

Rocco's Modern Life.

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Doug.

Magic School Bus.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-School-Bus/74225354429

Aladdin.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aladdin/74364743378

Pinky and the Brain
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pinky-and-The-Brain/76833181391

Sailor Moon.

Blossom.

Beavis & Butt-Head

Wishbone.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wishbone/74964624351

Bill Nye the Science Guy

MR RODGERS!!!!

Where everyone wanted to be in love after watching The Wonder Years.

Under the Umbrella Tree

PEE-WEE!!!

The Big Comfy Couch


Kool-Aid was the drink of choice.

Class field trips.

When Christmas was the most exciting time of year.

When $5 seemed like a million, & another dollar a miracle.

When you begged to go to McDonalds for dinner everyday.

When Toys R Us overuled the mall.



Go back to the time when:

Decisions were made by going 'eeny-meeny-miney-moe'.

Money issues were handled by whoever was banker in 'Monopoly.'

Being old referred to anyone over 20.

A chance to skate as a couple at the local roller rink was like winning the lottery.

When Ninja Turtles ruled the world.


When Aladdin was new, before the trilogy was complete.

Before we realized all this would eventually disappear

Who would have thought you'd miss the 90's so much!!!!!

"Dr. Pepper, You Make the World Taste Better..."

Well where I work, the majority of us all happen to be huge Dr. Pepper fans. As I was sitting at lunch drinking my Dr. Pepper, we all began to wonder about the history of the drink, and me being my curious self decided I would look it up on the internet. So, if you have ever been curious about it like I was, here is a little bit of information I found of off one of the websites I looked at. Enjoy!

A History of Dr Pepper, the World's Oldest Major Soft Drink Dr Pepper Company is the oldest major manufacturer of soft drink concentrates and syrups in the United States. It is America's unique flavor and was created, manufactured and sold beginning in 1885 in the Central Texas town of Waco.

Dr Pepper is a “native Texan,” originating at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store. It is the oldest of the major brand soft drinks in America. Like its flavor, the origin of Dr Pepper is out-of-the-ordinary. Charles Alderton, a young pharmacist working at Morrison's store, is believed to be the inventor of the now famous drink. Alderton spent most of his time mixing up medicine for the people of Waco, but in his spare time he liked to serve carbonated drinks at the soda fountain. He liked the way the drug store smelled, with all of the fruit syrup flavor smells mixing together in the air. He decided to to create a drink that tasted like that smell. He kept a journal, and after numerous experiments he finally hit upon a mixture of fruit syrups that he liked.

To test his new drink, he first offered it to store owner Morrison, who also found it to his liking. After repeated sample testing by the two, Alderton was ready to offer his new drink to some of the fountain customers. They liked it as well. Other patrons at Morrison's soda fountain soon learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering it by asking him to shoot them a "Waco."

Morrison is credited with naming the drink "Dr. Pepper" (the period was dropped in the 1950s). Unfortunately, the origin for the name is unclear. The Museum has collected over a dozen different stories on how the drink became known as Dr Pepper.

Dr Pepper gained such widespread consumer favor that other soda fountain operators in Waco began buying the syrup from Morrison and serving it. This soon presented a problem for Alderton and Morrison. They could no longer produce enough at their fountain to supply the demand.

Robert S. Lazenby, a young beverage chemist, had also tasted the new drink and he, too, was impressed. Alderton, the inventor, was primarily interested in pharmacy work and had no designs on the drink. He suggested that Morrison and Lazenby develop it further.

Morrison and Lazenby were impressed with the growth of Dr Pepper. In 1891, they formed a new firm, the Artesian Mfg. & Bottling Company, which later became Dr Pepper Company. Lazenby and his son-in-law, J.B. O'Hara moved the company from Waco to Dallas in 1923.

In 1904, Lazenby and O'Hara introduced Dr Pepper to almost 20 million people attending the 1904 World's Fair Exposition in St. Louis. The exposition was the setting for more than one major product debut. Hamburgers and frankfurters were first served on buns at the exposition, and the ice cream cone was first served in large numbers.

From 1910 to 1914, Dr Pepper was identified with the slogan, "King of Beverages." "Old Doc," a typical country doctor character with monocle and top hat, became the Dr Pepper trademark character in the 1920s and 1930s. During that era, research was discovered proving that sugar provided energy and that the average person experiences a letdown during the normal day at 10:30a.m., 2:30p.m. and 4:30p.m. A contest was held for the creation of an ad using this new information. The winner of the ad campaign came up with the famous advertising slogan, "Drink a bite to eat at 10, 2, and 4." Dr Pepper's slogan in the 1950s was "the friendly Pepper-Upper," which led the brand into the 1960s when it became associated with rock and roll music and on Dick Clark's American Bandstand TV show.

With changing times came changing slogans. To broaden its appeal across the nation, Dr Pepper hailed itself as "the most misunderstood soft drink," and then in the 1970s became "the most original soft drink ever in the whole wide world." In 1977, Dr Pepper advertising was marked by the famous "Be a Pepper" campaign, followed by "Be You." The newest slogan out today is "There's just more to it," which coordinates with the emphasis on the 23 fruit flavors that give Dr Pepper its unique taste.

175 Jubilee Mass

My 25 Things

A few months ago on face book, there was an interesting epidemic going around where lots of people felt the need to write down 25 random things about themselves.... Seeing as how I am wide awake at the moment and can't really fall asleep I thought I would put down 25 random facts about me on my blog.... So here it goes...

1.) My favorite color is navy blue, followed very closely by green.

2.) I am a huge Colt's football fan. It is kind of funny because if you look in my room you will find quite a few Colt's things there like my Colt's blanket and Peyton Manning poster...

3.) My favorite song to play on the piano ever is "Ave Maria" by Bach.

4.) I love to dance in the rain when it is pouring out and there is no lightning... there's something revitalizing and refreshing about not worrying how I will look afterwords.

5.) When I was younger my favorite holiday was 4th of July. I loved the fireworks... I guess I have always been a bit of a pyromaniac.

6.) I secretly envy people who can dance beautifully... I was never gifted that way.

7.) I also secretly envy people who know how to write good music lyrics. I have tried many times to sit down and write a song, but they never ever come out good at all. In fact, they are just awful.

8.) My very favorite saint is Saint Anthony. I don't know what I'd do without him sometimes.

9.) Taylor Swift is my favorite song writer right now.... She is really gifted.

10.) I can't stand it when people do not use their blinkers when they are driving. It really drives me crazy. I mean seriously people? It does not take that much effort to turn them on.

11.) I am hooked on going on retreats, planning retreats, pretty much anything having to do with a retreat I will try to get on board with it...What can I say, I love the Jesus buzz that comes with the territory.

12.) Sometimes late at night in the Summer when I can't sleep I will go outside and just look at the stars and wonder how there are people out there who really don't believe God exists. I just can't comprehend that.

13.) I find guys who are so into themselves and think everyone automatically loves them because they think they are so hot or whatever really unattractive.

14.) The most peaceful parts of my week are when I go to daily Mass. I really like going to daily Mass. I wish I could go more, but with my schedule that does not always work out. (I know, sounds like a sop-out, but it's true...)

15.) I love to read. I am always reading something. It is always fun to get so lost in a book that you don't realize time passing by and all you want to do is find out the ending. I wish more people enjoy reading as much as I do...

16.) I consider myself a dork, but then again I think everyone has a "dork" side to their personality, and if not they must be somewhat boring people to be around.

17.) I've never flown on a plane.

18.) I cannot stand riding on roller coasters. I get motion sickness, and roller coasters are just awful. I've tried them, but I just can't deal with them.

19. I have a fear of falling to my death...I don't know why that is, but because of that fear I hate climbing on unsteady things. I get a little freaked out about it.

20.) I love playing sudoku. It's so addicting.

21.) I think that I put way to many expectations on some people, and when they fall through, I get really disappointed... I need to work on that part of my personality.

22.) The movie "Armegeddon" happens to be my second favorite movie. I swear that movie always makes me cry. I tell myself each time I go to watch it that I won't let the scene when the dad is saying goodbye to his daughter get to me, and no matter how hard I try not too cry, I always end up bawling like a baby.

23.) I never really understood the obsession over Harry Potter. I never read the books, and I was not really a fan of the movies either, or at least the two that I saw. I think that it was overrated, but I am sure there are many out there who disagree with me on that.

24.) If I could have my dream wedding the ideal place to get married for me would be at the Farm with Fr. Mike as the presider. I think the farm is so gorgeous, and since Fr. Charlie died, Fr. Mike is the natural second pick for me. He's watched me grow up and knows me very well. It's too bad I have a huge family though, because I know not everyone one would fit in the farm chapel....

25.) I am very proud to say that since last year I have lost and kept off 33 pounds and am down three pants sizes. That makes me happy!

Hopeless Romantic

Last night as I was watching my very very favorite movie ever, "Pride and Prejudice" (the 2005 version) it made me realize how much we overlook some signs of affection.One of my very favorite scenes in the movie is when, after Jane has finally gotten over her cold while staying at Mr. Bingly's mansion, Lizzy and Jane are getting in their carriage to leave his home. Elizabeth Bennet says good-bye to both Mr. Bingly and Mr. Darcy, and as she is about to climb into the carriage Mr. Darcy takes her hand to help her get into it. Now a days no one thinks twice about something like that, but back in those days that was a huge thing... the touching of skin on skin was a big deal. Even when couples danced the gentlemen always wore gloves so that there would be no skin contact.

Today, it seems to me that so many people out there are ready to skip the intimate stuff and just jump in the bed and, well, you know what usually comes after that. I don't understand why that is, because to me, the little stuff is what I get excited about most, you know when you first make eye contact and there is that moment when you can't really think of anything except those eyes, or that awkward stage of wondering if and when he'll hold you're hand.... will he? won't he? Or when he is with you in a social gathering and he looks at you or touches your hand or even makes a joke at your expense, just to let everyone know you're with him. You're his. The anticipation is half the fun to me as the actual action... Maybe that's why I love the time period Jane Austin lived in, because they seemed to really understand how important those things which people now think of as nothing much are, and how important it is to save sex for marriage. What can I say, I am a hopeless romantic at heart, and I do not think I will ever really grow out of that.

"I Will Remember You"

I was looking around on the internet last night when I found this song. It basically says everything I am feeling about saying good-bye to all my friends, so I thought I'd put it here. I don't normally like feeling all sad about good-byes because just because people move on with their lives does not always mean it will be an end to a friendship, it just means that you have to work a little harder at keeping that friendship going.

"I Will Remember You"
By Ryan Cabrera

Eight years later
Time goes by fast
Got my memories
And they will last
I try to keep it simple 'cuz I hate goodbyes
I try to keep it simple by telling myself that

I, I will remember you
And all of the things that we've gone through
There is so much I can say
But words get in the way so
We're not together
I will remember you
I will remember you

We're a picture in my mind
And when I wanna find you
I just close my eyes
You'll never be that far from me
So don't say goodbye 'cuz
You'll never be that far from me
I'm telling myself that

I, I will remember you
And all of the things that we've gone through
There is so much I can say
But words get in the way so
We're not together
I will remember you

You were there when I needed love and
Thank you, thank you
I never told you how much that meant
God thank you, thank you
I will remember you

And all of the things that we've gone through
There is so much I can say
But words get in the way so
I, I will remember you
And all of the things that we've gone through
There is so much I can say
But words get in the way so
We're not together
I will remember
We're not together
I will remember you
I will remember you