Songs that Speak

"All these ups and downs, they trip up our good intentions. Nobody said this would be easy, right?" ~Jon McLaughlin

From time to time, there just seems to be a song, or even just a line from a song, that sticks with me through the day. It's almost like the writer knows exacly what I'm thinking. Gotta love that. I believe God brings those songs to mind to remind me that I'm not alone.

Bad Food

Who knew that May term meal plans were so worthless! My meal plan gives me enough meals for one meal a day, which is rather "convenient" since Baldwin Cafeteria is only open for one hour for each meal and my schedule allows me to eat only dinner. The fast food lines and all other forms of food are closed for the summer. Even Baldwin is severely depleted of food. Of the 10 or so available lines, only 4 are open. So far I have had a lovely taste of uncooked chicken, frozen veggies, and unidentifiable (by sight or taste) "meat." Disgusting. My cafeteria meals thus far consist of cerial and icecream. I am doomed to starve this May semester. That or put Meijer and Walmart out of stock...

Dominoes

"The best made plans of mice and men often go awry."

ever had that kind of day? Tends to be the story of my life but I feel it now specifically as I try to make summer plans. It feels much like a domino effect...like everything should fall into place if only I could push the first detail into the right spot.

Domino 1: I am hoping to get a summer babysitting job
Domino 2: Mom is coming home!
Domino 3: Ronnie's boot camp grad and the RAD Grad in GA
Domino 4: Trying to get details worked out for Ronnie's SHORT leave
Domino 5: Trying to get details worked out for Mom's short trip
Domino 6: All the other stuff that comes with moving for the summer

Deep breath, it's almost over....

It's a short week this week with finals until Wednesday, but it still feels like the week will never end! I have taken 3 finals today with only my Chem final to finish up with tomorrow, but I have also spent way too much time cleaning, organizing campus visits, scheduling classes, re scheduling classes, tracking down advisers to change more classes, and making phone calls. Sigh... When did I become a grown up? Oh, yea, the day I turned old.

Battle Buddies

Ronnie and His Battle Buddy Guillermo over Family Weekend

Praying for Ronnie

It is family weekend down in Georgia on the Army base and unfortunately neither I nor Ronnie's family can make it to the event. Please pray that Ronnie will feel encouraged and uplifted this weekend and not lonely.

As a brief update, Ronnie is doing great at boot camp. While the days are long and hard, he is excelling in all areas. He is at the top of his unit and class as a whole, was assigned to be squad leader, and is using the Army as a mission ground where he leads prayer groups and has even lead a friend to accept Christ! God is certainly using him there and I for one am SO excited for what the Lord has in store.

Ephesians 6:12 (New International Version)

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Last Day of Classes! [for now]

Yesterday was the last day of classes for this semester. To celebrate, me and my friends Amy and Becca went to Fort Wayne to go shopping for the afternoon/evening. It was a blast!

.... Now on to finals.... :P

ShOpPiNg!!!

...with my best girlie friend in Indy! Yssa and I had a great time hanging out this weekend and even found me a dress to wear to Ronnie's boot camp graduation! YAY!

Thank God for College Memories.

Taylor and I had quite a little adventure tonight. First of all, we were daring enough to walk over to the college store in hopes of spending our nearly $300 in points that will expire in only 2 weeks. Keep in mind that most people walk into the college store for things like a pack of gum or gallon of milk... not a whole shopping list. But we aimed to buy whatever we could. The girls behind the counter giggled as we picked through the groceries and stacked them on the counter... 4 boxes of cereal, bag of chips, instant meals, raman, candy, toothpaste, shampoo, poptarts....the list goes on. Finally it was time to ring it all up. DARN! I only spent $160! Back to shopping; try again. I managed to spend only about $200 leaving over $100 to spend on another day.

But that is not the end of the story. On top of looking completely rediculous carrying a grand total of 12 bags of groceries, we get to the door and it is POURING down rain, I'm talking lightning and thunder... So we put up our hoods, rolled up our jeans, and picked up our bags (very heavy I might add) and trudged through the rain puddles with water dripping down our face and into our bags. The walk back to the dorm seemed to last an eternity. People were rushing past us to seek shelter from the rain, but we gave up on staying dry and splashed at a slow, struggling pace. We finally got to our dorm, then our room, dropping all the bags onto the bedroom floor as we laughed at ourselves and how rediculous we undoutedly looked.

What a night!

I've Learned...

"I've Learned"~ author unknown

I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I 've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost, someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.