.: Shel Silverstein :.

I think this is one of my favorite poems :o)

How Many, How Much

How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love inside a friend?
Depends how much you give 'em.

- Shel Silverstein

.: Let's Recap :.

This is a survey for you to look back and see what happened over the last year [2006]

** JANUARY **

1. Where did you spend New Years Eve?
At the convention center in downtown Spokane

2. Did you have a new year's resolution that year?
I think to be more motivated for school...

3. Does it snow where you live?
Heck yes!! (well, if you count that as the Nile... not in Santa Cruz though)

4. Do you like hot cocoa?
Indeed I do

5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?
Nope

** FEBRUARY **

1. Who was your Valentine?
No one in particular

2. When you were little, did you buy valentines for all of your classmates?
Lol heck yeah I did!!

3. Do you care if the groundhog sees its shadow or not?
No

** MARCH **

1. Are you Irish?
Flamingly.

2. Did you wear green on St. Patty's Day?
Of course.

3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day in 2006?
Some friends were in town & we went to a Kutless/Falling Up/Stellarcart concert.

4. Are you happy when winter is pretty much over?
I like all the seasons, so when winter is done I am ready for spring, but I really like winter.

** APRIL **

1. Do you like the rain?
When it's pouring, yes... but only on occasion.

2. Did you play an April Fools joke on anyone this year?
I think I tried...

3. Do you get tons of candy on Easter?
Not tons, but Peg usually makes us Easter baskets.

4. How did you spend your Spring Break?
I don't really remember... I either came home or stayed in Cheney... nothing exciting.

** MAY **

1. What's your favorite kind of flower?
Lilacs & Gerbera Daisies

2. Do you like the spring?
Yep, it's beautiful!!

3. Finish the phrase "March winds & April showers..."
... bring forth May flowers.

4. What is the first color you think of when you think of Spring?
Pastels in general

** JUNE **

1. Did you graduate highschool yet?
Yes, almost 4 years ago.

2. Did you realize nothing special happens in June?
What!?! June is fun because in June, summer staff starts and I get to go to California!! :o)

** JULY **

1. What did you do on the Fourth of July?
Went up to the top of the hill by Pondy and watched fireworks over Scotts Valley.

2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?
No... unless you count summer staff as a vacation.

3. Do you blast the A/C all day?
Naw.

** AUGUST **

1. Did you do anything special at the end of your summer?
Came home for 2 weeks for Rachel & John's wedding & to visit, then moved to California for the year.

2. What was your favorite summer memory of '06?
Oh my gosh there are waaaaay too many. (Child Care, the Octagon, Dory/Flo fight night 06, the "mangos" devo, retreat... I could go on and on...)

3. Did you have a sunburn?
Probably... let us re-visit my flaming Irishness...

4. Do you go to the beach a lot?
Yep

** SEPTEMBER **

1. Did you attend school/college in '06?
Yes I did... good ol' EWU

2. Who is your favorite teacher?
Jane Baker. She was AWESOME.

3. Do you like fall better than summer?
Meh. They both have their good points.

** OCTOBER **

1. What was your Halloween costume?
Fairy princess!!

2. What's your favorite candy?
I don't really like candy... but I like dark chocolate

3.What did you do for halloween?
Went to Trinity's church, then on an expedition to find a fishbowl for her new fish, then downtown for a bit, then grabbed a bite to eat and went back to my house.

** NOVEMBER**

1. Whose house do you go to for Thanksgiving?
Mine!! We cooked and it was amazing!! :o)

2. Do you love stuffing?
Heck yes!!

3. What are you thankful for?
So many things... God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams!!

** DECEMBER **

1. Do you celebrate Christmas?
Indeed I do!!

2. What is your favorite (Christmas) tradition?
Christmas tree cutting!! It's an all-day event with several families... we go up into the woods and find the perfect tree, snowmobile some, sled some, and just have fun in general. I missed it this year though.

3. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?
I have been hugged under the huggle-toe :o) (Emily knows what I'm talkin about!!)

4. Your plans for New Years Eve?
Well.. if I'm in Naches, I'll probably be home or with friends... If I'm in Seattle, who knows!!


AND... SOME MORE QUESTIONS :

* How did you earn your money?
Workin' at the bookstore in Spokane and summer staff and Mount Hermon in the fall...

* Did you have to go to the hospital?
Only once

* Did you have any encounters with the police?
Umm... just one

* Where did you go on holiday?
I went to Bend, OR with my family over Memorial Day weekend.

* What did you purchase that was over $500?
Tuition?

* Did you know anybody who got married?
Sheesh, it seems like everyone is getting married these days!! Rachel & John, Jaime & Karly, Leslie & Dave... I'm sure there are more but those are the ones I went to.

* Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes, a family friend.

* Have you run into anybody you left high school with?
Quite a few of them, actually :o) Weddings are great!!

* Did you move anywhere?
Yes!! To California!!

* What sporting events did you go to?
A hockey game in Spokane... some kiddie soccer games...

* What concerts/shows did you go to?
Kutless/Falling Up/Stellarcart... Gran Bel Fisher/The Duhks... I think there were more but I don't remember.

* Are you registered to vote?
Indeed I am

* Where do you live now?
Mount Hermon, CA

* Describe your birthday.
My 21st!! It was Super Bowl Sunday, so I hung out with some friends after church, drank a little at Daniel's... then the next night was Daniel's 21st so a bunch of us went out for the "21 run"... it wasn't too crazy, but fun!!

* What's the one thing you thought you would never do but did in 2006?
Moved 3 states away from home.

* What has been your favorite moment?
There were lots of amazing moments :o) Fall was great.

* What's something you learned about yourself?
I need to let go of control and just let things happen.

* Any new additions to your family?
Nope.

* What was your best month?
October and November were really fun.

* What music will you remember 2006 by?
Oh, there is so much (and Cassie, don't forget to we need to make our life's soundtrack, one day at a time!!)

* Who has been your best drinking buddy?
Danny... definately. Kahlua & wheat pancakes for life!! lol (or Margaritas and Grey's Anatomy...)

* Made new friends?
So many. Summer staff will do that do ya :o)

* Best new friend?
Danny... we were friends before, but more so now.

* Favourite Night out?
Michael's on Main with Trinity. That was just a great night. Or the 21 run. Or girls' night at Ella's and the Davenport.

* Any regrets?
There was some heartache I wish I had gotten over faster.. but nothing really other than that.

* Which season was the best?
I'm gonna go with fall.

* How many nights out of 365 days did you not remember?
Lol... I have a horrible memory...

* If you could would you re-do the whole year?
Do it again the same? Pretty much.

.: Duhking Awesome :.

It was a Thursday night. I had just finished babysitting and realized that this was the first thursday in ... a very long time ... that I didn't have to work!! My plan? Watch Grey's Anatomy of course!! I finally found the right channel and ... it was a RERUN!! What the heck!! Just then, Danny calls, saying he is at this amazing concert in Felton. An amazing concert in Felton? Riiiiight ... but the guy who was playing did just have a song on Grey's Anatomy (which does have an amazing soundtrack), so i thought i'd check it out. By the time I got there that guy (Gran Bel Fisher) had finished and the Duhks were heading up to the stage.

The Duhks - an amazing band from Canada of all places!! (Bob would be proud...) - put on an amazing show!! Seriously one of the best concerts I've been to. They are definately one of my new favorite bands.

So yeah, there ya go. :o)

.: May I Just Say :.

I love the first weekend of December. Why, you ask?

- It usually snows.
- Everyone gets all Christmas-spirit-ified and puts up Christmas lights and plays Christmas music.
- School is wrapping up, kids bring home fun Christmas projects, and the countdowns begin.
- Starbucks turns red.
- Oooooh lights... need I say more?
- Christmas tree cutting.
- Snowboarding season is here!!
- When you're decorating your house in Christmas lights, you can decorate your friends with Christmas lights too. It makes for fun pictures.

.: My Wish :.

I found another favorite song...it pretty much sums up how I feel at the moment...it's also my profile song, so you can listen to it. Enjoy!

Rascal Flatts - My Wish

I hope the 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,
But more than anything, more than anything

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than 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 you never forget,
all the ones who love you, and 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 always give more than you take.
But More than anything, Yeah, more than anything

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than 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. Yeah.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than 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.

.: Country Music = Therapy :.

Disclaimer: this is not really intended for city-folk. In fact, it's not really intended for anyone who isn't from the Nile... but read on if you wish.

Soo... I had a little realization today. I can really truly handle anything. Why? Because, I know who I am and where I came from. I am, indeed, a "Nile girl." It seems so trivial to stress over little details... not that those details aren't important, but really... what matters? How my hair looks today or what so-and-so thinks of me? No. I come from a land where there are certain truths that may only be known to those who live there. I know how to drive in the snow, chain up my car, operate a wood splitter, start a fire, put one out, avoid ending up in the ditch, shoot a gun, re-load ammo, jump off a 30-foot cliff and land in a deep enough spot that I won't break my neck, "surf" in the river off a bridge, ride a snowmobile without getting stuck, fix all kinds of random things, weld, fix my car (within reason), cook enough to be satisfied and basically problem-solve anything. These are basic survival skills. Having fun is part of surviving, too. When "going to town" is a 30 min. drive and usually an all-day affair, you really learn what you can live with and what you can live without. Don't get me wrong... I love "fancy" sometimes, but realistic more. What the people in my life look/dress like matter so much less than the wisdom and life experiences they provide. We might look ridiculous trying to get 6 people standing on 1 rock in the middle of the river, but that's one of my favorite memories. Camping in the woods (no campsites, no roads, no toilets, no electricity, no running water...honestly, most people don't understand the meaning of the word "camping"...) and not showering for 3 days and smelling/looking horrible wouldn't sound appealing to most people, but again... one of my favorite memories is from doing just that, spending quality time enjoying God's beautiful creation with the people He has put in my life (if you have never been to Bumping Lake, you must go). To people who don't enjoy snow I ask, have you ever woken up in the morning to sunshine on a freshly blanketed field, all sparkly and just plain beautiful, just begging you to come outside and play? People need to play more... after basic survival needs have been met. All this is to say... I listened to one of my favorite country mixes this morning and I love life again :o)

.: I've Learned :.

I've Learned...

...you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. ...the rest is up to them.
...that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.
...that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.
...that it's not what you have in your life but who you have in your life that counts.
...that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes. After that, you'd better know something.
...that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do but to the best you can do.
...that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it.
...that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.
...that no matter how thin you slice it,there are always two sides.
...that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
...that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.
...that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
...that you can keep going long after you think you can't.
...that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
...that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
...that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.
...that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done,regardless of the consequences.
...that learning to forgive takes practice.
...that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.
...that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
...that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
...that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
...that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
...that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love
...that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
...that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
...that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
...that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.
...that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
...that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
...that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
...that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
...that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.
...that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other and just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
...that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.
...that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.
...that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.
...that it's those small daily happenings that are so spectacular.
...that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
...that to ignore the facts doesn't change the facts.
...the easiest way to grow as a person is to surround myself with those who are smarter than I am and learn from them.
...that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
...that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances: when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.
...that the less time I have to work with, the more I get done.
...that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
...that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
...that there are many ways of falling and staying in love.
...that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
...that no matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.
...that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
...that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
...that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.
...that the paradigm we live in is not all that is offered to us.
...that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
...that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon.
...that although the word "love" can have many different meanings, it loses value when overly used.
...that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

.: S.L.O. :.

So… this trip deserves a blog.

I just got back from an AWESOME 4 days in San Luis Obispo, visiting Lucky, Pierre, & Squirt. Highlights include:

Coffee at Linnea's
Class cancellations on Monday for both Pierre & Lucky
The Avila Barn
Pirate's Cove
Squirt coming up from Santa Barbara
Our loooong chat on Monday afternoon
The Guardian
Hanging out/doing homework till 4:00am at Pierre's (and only dozing off a few times)
"Breakfast" at Subway
THE ATASCADERO ZOO (basically… a tiger and some birds)
In-N-Out
Target<
Planning our Child Care New Year's REUNION!! Woohoo!!
Decorating Squirt's Myspace
Discovering my new favorite CD (Imogen Heap, anyone?)
Applebee's (and Squirt's bucket-o-rum drink)
Jonah at Lucky's

Visiting is fun… y'all should try it. I have lots of extra beds. For real. :o)

.: Smurf Got Served :.

So... funny summer staff story. If you are in Child Care, you know the story and don't need to read this part - just enjoy the pictures :o) otherwise, read on...

As you may or may not know, in child care this year we have a massive game of "boob tag" going... we went on our retreat to whisper canyon last weekend and one fateful night, around the campfire



I tagged Dory SO HARD it was incredible, let me just tell you. Closed-fisted punch. Now, Dory, not being one to just sit there and take that kind of a beating, plotted and planned all week (a quite terrifying time for me). Her accomplaces (who, if I HAD such a list, would now be on it) helped her plan a move of ALL MY STUFF into the loading zone one Thursday afternoon while I was helping at VBS at Trinity's church. So when we pull into the Loading Zone, I see this:



I cried. But just a little. It was all in good fun!! Anyhow, I just thought I'd share that bit of goodness with y'all. Have a great day!!

.: Passion :.

so i heard this song... and i LOVE it. it's called "Elias," by Dispatch. apparently, they wrote it after being in Zimbabwe.

kasiwa i
makasimba ere
ndakasimba kana makasimba ow
ndakasimba

you raise your head, you beat the sun
but your boys they lie so close to you
do you dare get up and wake the two
oh elias, I see you there at work in the day time
do you think you could answer all the questions in the world
in just one word- I think you could

CHORUS:
'cause if you die will I get word that your gone
or will I hear it in passing conversation
or will I stop short and fall to the ground
distance is short when your hand carries what your eye found

hold my hand just one more time
to see if you're really going to meet me
hold my hand just one more time
to see if you're really going to meet me
honest and manuel, well they're at school now
given the chance that their father's never seen
to see what's beyond section 17
and in ten years when you look back at your boys
well you know they've grown way taller than the tallest
sugar cane in the field

CHORUS

I see your wife she stands stooped over by the fire outside
and I see your boys and when they look up
you know I think they got their mother's eyes
'cause she looks so proud she looks so happy
she looks so proud she looks so happy

CHORUS

If you get the chance, listen to the song. it is so full of passion... amazing. Anyhow, just thought I'd share :o)

.: Psalm 22 :.

Psalm 22

This morning at Bible study we got into a very interesting discussion about ... well, all kinds of things, but the part that really made me think was when we were talking about God turning His back on Jesus when He was on the cross... "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34) Jesus was a traditional Jewish teacher, a Rabbi in every sense of the word. Back in the day, they didn't have Bible references such as Mark 15:34. Instead, they would quote the first line of the passage they were referring to and people would automatically know what they were referencing. Now what is interesting about this is Psalm 22. It starts off by saying, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" It goes on in verses 16-18 to describe the events that took place that day, piercing the hands and feet and casting lots for clothes, all things that didn't actually happen to Daniel but were actually a prophecy. I just thought that was interesting. Maybe Jesus wasn't saying that God actually turned his back, but was trying to comfort his mother and others who were watching? Esta posible...

.: Summer 2006 :.

So this was sent as an email... and a myspace bulletin... i am covering the bases here by also posting it as a blog :o)

Hello Everyone :o)

So.. some of you I don't get to talk with very often and some of you I get to see/talk with every day :o) I just thought I'd give y'all the scoop on where I am and what I'm up to these days... I just finished up my junior year at Eastern Washington University (go Cheney, haha).. well I do have a spanish final on monday, but after that I will be completely done. I'll be heading home for a few days on Monday/Tuesday, then flying down to Santa Cruz for another fun-filled summer at Mount Hermon Child Care, yay!! I am excited for the sun and the beach and the kids and all you amazing people I will be seeing there :o) I will miss the rest of you dearly!! I will be there until the end of August (return date pending...), then I'll be in Naches/Cheney until school starts at the end of September. Then, I'll be working hard to finish up so I can be an event planner!! (so if you know of any conference centers/hotels/venues that will need an event planner/guest group host in about a year, let me know!!) Anyhow... I am interested in how all of you are doing also, so write back if you get a chance!! Have a great day :o)

- Carol Ann Callahan / Smurfy

I like real mail... my summer address is:

Carol Ann (Smurf) Callahan
CC Summer Staff
General Delivery
Mount Hermon, CA 95041

And when I get back to Cheney, my address is:

Carol Ann Callahan
215 W. 3rd Street
Cheney, WA 99004

Hint, Hint... :o)

.: James 1:27 :.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

This verse has always been one of my favorites. It seems to be such a clear explaination of God's will for His followers; a real gift in a world that is so full of uncertainty. My excitement about this command was renewed on Sunday in church when an announcement was made that the Invisible Children Movement is coming to all the universities in Spokane, including EWU. I am hoping to get more involved... if you haven't heard of this organization before, here's their "mission" part of the site:

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMission/ourMission/

The screening at EWU is on Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 12:00 pm in Showalter Hall... so anyone who's interested should go!! The website has more info also on what happens at the screenings. I'm stoked. Hope to see y'all there!! :o)

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
- John Piper -

.: Well, That Was Fun :.

.: well that was fun :.
Current mood: amused

TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey
Name:	Carol Ann Callahan
Birthday:	February 5, 1985
Birthplace:	Yakima, WA
Current Location:	Cheney, WA
Eye Color:	green/brown/hazel/blue... they're quite the thing
Hair Color:	dark brown (with gray!!! ahhhh!!! lol)
Height:	5'6"
Right Handed or Left Handed:	right
Your Heritage:	I think mostly Irish and German (haha i AM hitler!! lol just kidding..)
The Shoes You Wore Today:	flip flops!!
Your Weakness:	doubt
Your Fears:	all stupid stuff... God's got my back so really, i have nothing to worry about...
Your Perfect Pizza:	CHEESE... canadian bacon.. and green peppers.. Mmmm
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	be completely satisfied with God alone
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	ROFL or LOL in all caps so my computer laughs :o)
Thoughts First Waking Up:	oh gosh, what am i late for??
Your Best Physical Feature:	eyes i suppose
Your Bedtime:	lately it has been around 4:00 but usually between 12:00-1:00
Your Most Missed Memory:	playing on the hill behind NCS...good times, good times..
Pepsi or Coke:	no me gusta... ginger ale??
MacDonalds or Burger King:	no me gusta
Single or Group Dates:	well i haven't had much experience with either lol...
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	i think lipton
Chocolate or Vanilla:	chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	um...cappuccino is coffee... but Sugar-Free Irish Cream Soy Latte, please :o)
Do you Smoke:	no, no me gusta
Do you Swear:	only sometimes in my head and i really feel bad about it
Do you Sing:	indeed i do :o) well? not so much..
Do you Shower Daily:	for the most part
Have you Been in Love:	i just might have...
Do you want to go to College:	i am IN college, foo!!
Do you want to get Married:	YES
Do you belive in yourself:	sometimes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	not usually
Do you think you are Attractive:	not particularly
Are you a Health Freak:	a little bit
Do you get along with your Parents:	mom yes, dad no...
Do you like Thunderstorms:	LOVE them :o)
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	haha yes, yes i have (what are 21st birthdays for??)
In the past month have you Smoked:	NO
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	define "drugs" (no...)
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	define "date" (again, i'm gonna go with no)
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	nope
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	i wish!!
In the past month have you been on Stage:	yes, but not performing anything
In the past month have you been Dumped:	nope
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no its cold outside!!
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	nope
Ever been Drunk:	nope
Ever been called a Tease:	nope
Ever been Beaten up:	yep
Ever Shoplifted:	nope
How do you want to Die:	old, but not alone
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	an event planner... or something along those lines
What country would you most like to Visit:	Ireland or Austrailia
In a Boy/Girl..
Favourite Eye Color:	doesn't matter
Favourite Hair Color:	probably dark
Short or Long Hair:	shorter
Height:	taller than me
Weight:	doesn't matter
Best Clothing Style:	doesn't matter as long as it suits him :o)
Number of Drugs I have taken:	again, define "drugs"
Number of CDs I own:	oh my, lots
Number of Piercings:	just my ears
Number of Tattoos:	none
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	umm....
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

.: First Day of Spring :.

"It was said that people are often content to stay in the city making mud pies, when God wants to take them to the seashore to make sandcastles. I hope I'm not one of those people."

-C.S. Lewis

I love this quote. So often we sell ourselves short when we really need to remember whose image we were created in. Today I read a story by Max Lucado at work (may I just say that I love working in a bookstore?). The main character, Punchinello, is sad because the Wemmicks don't like him and put dots on him. He goes back to the toy maker and asks what is wrong with him. His creator simply tells him that he is wonderful in his eyes. He made no mistake when he made Punchinello. It's so comforting to know that this is how God feels about us. He knew what He was doing, and God doesn't make mistakes. As Mr. Lewis points out, sometimes we cannot see past our current surroundings. Mudpies can be great sometimes. However, we are failing to realize that God has created something even better for us to enjoy, the sandcastles. "Don't let the good get in the way of the best." I don't know who said that, but I think they have the right idea. Always remember that God sees the big picture, so what seems like a bad situation or failure right now just might be a stepping stone for what's to come.

So I suppose that's the end of my ramblings for today. God Bless.

.: Photograph :.

"Photograph"

All The Right Reasons - Nickelback

Look at this photograph
Every time I do it makes me laugh
How did our eyes get so red?
And what the hell is on Joey's head?

This is where I grew up
I think the present owner fixed it up
I never knew we ever went without
The second floor is hard for sneakin' out

This is where I went to school
Most of the time had better things to do
Criminal record says I broke in twice
I must've done it half a dozen times

I wonder if it's too late
Should I go back and try to graduate
Life's better now than it was back then
If I was them, I wouldn't let me in

Every memory of looking out the back door
I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor
It's hard to say
It's time to say it
Goodbye, Goodbye
Every memory of walking out the front door
I found the photo of the friend that I was looking for

It's hard to say
It's time to say it
Goodbye, Goodbye

We used to listen to the radio
And sing along with every song we'd know
We said someday we'd find out how it feels
To sing to more than just the steering wheel

Kim's the first girl I kissed
I was so nervous that I nearly missed
She's had a couple of kids since then
I haven't seen her since God knows when

I miss that town
I miss their faces
You can't erase
You can't replace it
I miss it now
I can't believe it
So hard to stay
Too hard to leave it
If I could relive those days
I know the one thing that would never change

Look at this photograph
Every time I do it makes me laugh
Every time I do it makes me

.: A Word to the Wise :.

ok so i have never really understood that phrase... if you are wise, you should already know whatever it is that i am about to tell you.. anyway... so this morning as i was showering, i touched the wall, and was mortified to find that i was slippery!! now we are not talking about your average slippery tile wall, no no... there was most definately some sort of bacteria involved. it was at that moment that i realized that one of my greatest fears is bathroom scum. literally. i was terrified. i nearly screamed and ran out of the bathroom. ok so you get the picture, and this story does have a point, i promise. upon my shocking discovery of the grossness inhabiting the very place i am to go to get clean, i set up shop and went to work to detoxify the bathroom. i had my checklist: bleach, rubber gloves, tilex, mildew remover, flipflops, paper towels, garbage bag, confined space. wait, what? no ventilation? meh, not a big deal, i can do with a few less brain cells i suppose... well i ran the showercurtain through the washing machine with some bleach... removed the mold from the ceiling that you couldn't really see but i know it was there... the scum from the walls and faucet/handles... went around the rim of the tub... and thats about as far as i got before realizing that my face/neck/arms were beat red, my nose was burning, and i couldn't really breathe all that well. so i have abandoned the mess for the time being until ALL the little spots in my vision go away and i feel semi-normal again. and the moral of the story is... do not, under any circumstances, allow bacteria/mold to live in the bathroom every again. :o)

.: Princess :.

hich Disney Princess Are You? Belle You are bookish but incredibly pretty. Belle was first seen in Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

.: Thank you, Mr. Lewis :.

I read the following the other morning and found it to be quite insightful, just thought I'd share.

"I remember once when I had been giving a talk to the R.A.F., an old, hard-bitten officer got up and said, 'I've no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I'm a religious man too. I know there's a God. I've felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that's just why I don't believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who's met the real thing they all seem so petty and pendantic and unreal.
Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably had a real experience of God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from teh beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning from real waves to a bit only of coloured paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only coloured paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to get to America."

(This was from C.S. Lewis's book, Mere Christianity.)