2010: My Life List

I keep a book full of my life list. Every time I cross something off, I have to add something else. It's never ending! Athough, sometimes I forget I have it. I didn't think I really accomplished that much this year, but when I was looking back at it last night, I realized I accomplished more than I originally thought.

1) Try Crab

2) Go back to Presbyterian Youth Triennium

3) see fish being thrown at Pike Place Market in Seattle

4) get an opinion piece published in a newspaper

5) get 2nd holes pierced in my ears

6) get a real job

7) go to an NBA game

8)fly 1st class on a plane

9)take a picture in front of the original starbucks

10)make an origami duck

11)get kidnapped, but in a good way

12)make something easy out of origami

13)drive a golf cart

14)worship at a PCA church

15)eat a sausage that comes in a jar or a can

16)order the most expensive thing on a menu somewhere

17)see the Cumberland Presbyterian Center

18)try water skiing

19)worship at a Cumberland Presbyterian Church

20)have a surprise birthday party thrown for me

21)smoke hookah

22)smoke a cigar

so, heres to achieving life goals!

Oregon!

I’ve only been in Oregon for 3 whole days…and I love it. Which is good. Considering I live here. I love all of the interesting and unique people. You can always tell what flight is going back to portland by the natury looking people...the people with long gray hair, dreadlocks, random facial piercings, and the "normal" people mixed in. So.Great.

I also really love Chelsea Handler. When I was in the Dallas Airport, I bought one of her books to read on the plane. My Horizontal LIfe. I should have known what it was about by the title, but I didn’t think too much about it.

Of course, after I started reading it, I realized, every chapter was basically a different one night stand. Classy. Just kidding. So, here I am, sitting on the plane, where anyone who wants can read over my shoulder, reading about Chelsea Handler and all of her men. I still love her though.

I love airports. They are such great places to people watch! All sorts of people coming and going…that’s why I love layovers! It gives me the chance to walk around and explore all sorts of interesting places in the airport. Especially Dallas. I love Dallas. I also love sitting next to fun people on planes. It doesn’t happen very often, but I usually try to ask where the person next to me is going…if they live where they are going, or if they are just visiting. It leads for some fun conversation, or it just leads to the person getting annoyed and not talking anymore. But, either way, I tried to meet someone new and fun!

Everything points back Indiana (and Kentucky and Memphis)

Well, not EVERYTHING..but a lot of things.

-I was taking pictures this past weekend, and whenever I take pictures I can’t help but notice the chip in the upper right hand corner of the camera, and the various scratches all over it….my camera had two experiences of falling out of a moving golf cart this summer. I’m glad my camera has those permanent scars to remind me of my time there.

-My PYT water bottle, and other PYT paraphernalia. I wore my white wristband until September. I took it off because several people asked if I had been in the hospital, and it was starting to fade. It only looks cool if people KNOW it’s white because you’re on staff…of course, I have a section of a wall dedicated to this lovely experience, so I’m reminded when I wake up every morning

-The Vuvuzela. KNOCK KNOCK..WHO’s THERE…INTERRUPTING VUVUZELA…INTERUPTING Vuvu… Bzzzzzzzzzzz. Exactly. Only funny when you’re averaging 5 hours of sleep. I really haven’t used it all that much since PYT. It was more fun to use in a big crowd, to get people’s attention,and in worship countdowns. I told that joke to someone here….they didn’t understand. Obviously.

- Golf Carts. The maintenance men drive them around my school. You have to understand…at my school, you can get from one end to the other in 10 minutes or less. I think trucks would be sufficient..I can’t help but get jealous when I see people driving the golf cart, and can’t help but think of how much more fun my driving was on them then theirs is. They could use some lessons from me..just saying..

-I went to Memphis for formal this year, and for fall break. Memphis will always have a special place in my heart…actually, the Memphis Airport will. That is where I first met the people that mean the world to me. Tacky, but so true.

And there are more….but that is for another day

God is good. I love memories. I love connections. I love life-long friends.

Future.

I submitted an application to University of Oregon for next fall. While I don't especially like the idea of transferring...God's calling me somewhere else. I came in to college intending to stay at the same place for 4 years. Having never gone to private school before, it was a bit different. I feel my faith grows more when I am around people of different faiths. Everything seems to be going together nicely to go to U of O. Living with my best friend. Volunteering at a church there. Good for my major. College town...I didn't like the idea of going to school in Oregon, however, I need to set aside my pride and just do it. It's been a real struggle to decide whether to just stay or go. I'm a firm believer that sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do.

If I don't get accepted...then onto Plan B.

Thanksgiving

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Thanksgiving.

While it’s nice to set aside time to be thankful…we should really be thinking of things to be thankful about every day, Why set aside just one day out of the whole year? Eating a lot of food doesn’t have anything to do with being thankful…it just causes stress for the people who make it…and you know the people who are cleaning up aren’t thankful. Or maybe they are.

As followers of Christ, we’re called to give thanks and praise to God. It doesn’t say when, or how many times..but I feel like we need to be doing this every day.

I came across this really powerful verse yesterday, that I just think is so amazing.Hebrews 12:28…

“Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakeable, let us be thankful and please God by worshipping him with holy fear and awe. For our God is a devouring fire”

This is from the NLT version. I’ve been trying to comprehend this verse for the last few days, and it’s really made me think, that I need to stop and genuinely praise the God who created me for everything I have in my life. He’s given me the greatest gift ever, so the least that I can do is stop and thank Him. To think that I’m getting an “unshakeable” Kingdom…that’s pretty cool. It’s more than cool. Honestly though, there are not enough words to describe how I feel about this passage..I’ll just leave it at amazing.

Scattered Thoughts

My mind is always going a million miles an hour..and I realized I didn't write anything the entire month of October.

-I talked to the vice president of christian development about my article. He didn't even want to talk about my article, he wanted to talk about his political views. Basically. I left the talk knowing that he is very pro-life, and only likes women to talk in chapel or churches if they don't "dabble in theology."....then please tell me, what are women allowed to talk about? Precisely. My point. I left with not very much respect for him

- I've just been realizing how blessed I am, and it is a really great feeling.

-I put a gay pride sticker on my water bottle. This wouldn't be a big deal, except i'm down in the south, at Baptist college. However, it has brought on some good conversations. At first I was worried about people getting mad...but it has led to some good conversations about equality. I am for gay rights. I'll just say that right now. Being down in the south has made me realize how important equality is. God calls us to love everyone. That includes people not like us. This is always why I belong to the Presbyterian Church. NOT PCA. PC(USA). We love everyone. This makes me happy.

-I've started the process of applying for mission trip companies and camps for next summer. It is so much fun to do! I have a phone interview on Wednesday with a company called YouthWorks! (The exclamation point is part of their logo...how cool is that?! I LOVE exclamation points...just sayin) Then next Wednesday, I have an interview with Center for Student Missions. I went on a mission trip to NYC with them a few years ago and loved them...we will see what happens.

-I met my littles. I love them. We have a cute little family now. Well it is getting bigger. Which is good.

-I'm applying to University of Oregon for next fall! And maybe University of Missouri! This excited me. A lot. This is due to a variety of factors...but it all comes down to what place has the best journalism school. And if Oregon can offer me a lot of money, that means I get to live with one of my best friends AND maybe rush. I really want to be in a real sorority. Not the little tribe stuff we have here. I mean, it's fun...but I need something else if I go to public school. I miss public school! It just seems so nice. I went to public school my whole life...this whole private school thing is not for me....maybe it's just Christian School that isn't for me.

more later...hopefully more consistently

Thoughts Lately.

1) I love my littles in my social tribe. they are freakin amazing

2) I want to go to school in Tennessee. It is more exciting here than in Mississippi

3) Actually, I love all of our pledges

4) I wrote an article for our school paper, and have an appt. to talk with the vice president of christian development on Wednesday. Uh, this should be interesting

5) I'm in Memphis for the weekend. Seeing people from the design team makes me heart happy. Really happy. It's like coming home to family. It really is. I am so glad I have these connections. So glad.