the funny things

So much has happened in the past days, I simply don't know where to start!

First, yesterday was my brother Tommy's 18th birthday, and as a surprise for him, Michael [16] and I snuck into the high school and decorated his locker before school began. It was really fun...though I really didn't enjoy getting up at 6:30am :] This is a picture of what was on his locker:

     ^ happy birthday tommy! ^

I then came home and made brunch for two of my friends, Maggie and Jennie [the blushing bride]...which consisted of strawberry blintzes, yummy! Over brunch, Jennie asked me to be a bridesmaid in her and Tim's wedding! I, of course, accepted and am sooo excited! It's going to be really fun because the summer will be in August, so we will have the whole summer to plan the bridal shower and bachelorette party and everything. I really cannot wait.

So, I am an avid Facebooker, my parents think that I am addicted, but whatever! Anyways, I am a member of many Pro-Life groups and recently started a discussion about why it is illegal in our country to touch sea turtle eggs on the beach, yet we are allowed to kill our unborn children. There are some pro-choice people who are really rude in their responses and it is really getting to me. I admit, I don't know everything, but there is no reason for people to be insulting about my intelligence. I am just trying to keep a level head and only responding to their arguements on the subject.

I go back to school tomorrow for second semester...not so excited, but whatever. I can't wait to see my friends and get started on some of my new years resolution. I am really going to halt my money spending because I have to pay for my retreat in March [$50] and the bridesmaid dress is going to be at least $80, plus shoes [about $15]. But it is going to be a priceless experience and I can't wait to dive in. I am also eager to begin my new workout regimen...since I am going to have to wear a slim, black dress in front of over a hundred people, I really want to look good. haha It may be vain, but I am really not very happy with my fitness or figure and so I intend to work out every MWF morning at 7am. We'll see how this goes, but I think that it will be good to have a regular time to get up since TR mornings I wake up to work at 7am.

Thats all for now! God bless! :]

The Perfect Man

It's been such a long time since I've blogged, I think I'll try to make this a daily thing...not that anyone reads this, but I like to think of it as my journal. I think I'll probably try to focus on one topic each day and see where that takes me.....

Today wasn't such a horrible day...as I told my friend Tim, whom I was chatting with today, I feel as though I'm in some sort of funk. It's not that I'm depressed or anything I just feel like there's nothing really left to do at home and so I want to go back to school, but I really don't feel like starting classes quite yet. I think some of this might also have to do with new developments with one of my friend's relationship and yeah. To be frank, I'm not too fond of the idea...I love both of them dearly, and the woman is going to be my roommate next year, but at one point I liked the man and so yeah, some crushes die hard. He is an incredible person, everything I look for in a relationship, but I am trying to remind myselt that if he isn't the one, then whoever God has for me is going to be pretty amazing because I have high expectations for him :]

Anyways...I think what this all boils down to today is the perfect mate. I feel like this is what I am being called to talk about today. Lets see....when presented with this question I think most people would go straight for physical characteristics, which the only "requirement" I have is that I really like a man who is taller than I. I am 5'10.5'' so this is sometimes a challenge, but that is what I prefer. I am also a sucker for broad shoulders haha...I think this is because a man who is tall and has broad shoulders leads me to believe that he will be able to protect me...and when he holds me then I feel safe. Those are obviously not the only things I am attracted to...a chiseled jaw, kind eyes, somewhat mischevious grin, etc...but I can't say that I have a "type".

Moving on to more inportant things...I think that women over-use the phrase, "I like a guy with a good personality"...sure that's important...but I think there are other things worth mentioning. I think strong morals are an important thing, especially having self control and respect for himself. Self control in all matters of life, such as in situations that may result in a fight, with food or alcohol, and also when it comes to being physical with one another. This ties into respect for himself. I respect people who respect themselves, and if a man cannot respect himself enough not to control his desires then I am simply not interested. I also appreciate a sense of humor...I am extremely sarcastic at times, and I need someone who can handle that. I really like someone who is also able to be without me...not that he wouldn't want to be with me all the time, but it isn't a necessity. Being able to talk with people at a party I brought him to while I'm in the bathroom is a really big thing too. I really dislike it when it there is a couple and one of the two cannot mingle without the other.

One of the biggest things that totally gets me hooked on a guy is watching him interact with children. If a guy likes kids and is able to play with children that he doesn't know. I just love it when a guy I like is able to get on the floor and play with a one year old, or read a book to a 3 year old. It shows you what kind of a father he will be. One other way to see how you and your future children will be treated is by seeing how he treats his mother and sisters and animals. If a man loves his mother and is able to respect his sister then you know he is going to be alright. And if a man is kind to animals then that is a good sign. My mother dated a man once who was fine to his mother and sister, but when his puppy peed on the floor, he drop kicked it off of the front step. NOT a good sign.

And of course, a man of faith is the most important thing. A man must love God above everything, above me. If God is not the center of a relationship, there is no way for a couple to give anything to one another. We receive love from the Lord and then we can give that love away...when we don't receive anything, it is impossible for us to give

I think that's all for now...goodnight!

Trust in the Lord, you shall not tire

Oh dear! I haven't posted anything in such a long time...the summer was somewhat of a whirlwind so I unfortunately was not able to blog as much as I intended, however, I am now closer to the Lord than I ever have been.

A couple months ago, I discerned to the married life through the grace and love of the Holy Spirit. I feel such a huge amount of peace through this discernment, there's no more flip flopping between what I am supposed to be doing with my life...for the first time, I feel like I truly am on the right track! I am trying even more than ever to focus on being happy with where I am at in my life...1 Corinthians 7:17 says that "everyone should live as the Lord has assigned" and verse 26 says "that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is" until the Lord decides to change the scenery, so to say. I feel that one cannot be happy in a relationship with someone until he or she knows what it is like to be single, and to embrace being single. Being in a relationship with someone who is constantly afraid of being single again can be exhausting. One can't go from one relationship to another without any break in between...it just isn't healthy. If you only know yourself with another person, how do you know who you truly are and what your own path is? In addition, one cannot love another fully and completely until he or she loves him or herself and knows God's will for him or her.

In other news, one of my childhood friends, Jennie, got engaged just a couple weeks ago, on Christmas Eve. We are all very excited for her and her future husband, Tim. They plan to marry on August 7th, which seems to be coming closer and closer each day, though it is only January at the time. Their love for Christ and one another will keep them together forever, I'm sure of it. With some couples you can just see the love; Jennie and Tim are what I like to call "forever couples". You can tell that they are in it for the long haul.

I have recently re-realized the importance of a couple of my friends. Beef is spunky, hilarious and beautiful. We can talk for hours when it seems like mere minutes. She truly emulates the woman who I want to be. Kunk is like my other half. She is the type of person who will listen for hours without ever interrupting...I can tell her anything and everything and I know that she will never judge me about any of it. I feel like these two women are what I aspire to be...they are the big sisters who I never had. I love them with all my heart and we can tell that we will be friends forever.
I think what I like the best about our friendship is how entirely open it is. We aren't afraid to open up to one another because we trust each other completely. We also are completely comfortable with telling each other how we feel. We love each other more than words can describe and tell each other so. It's like we're our own little family. We three are so extremely alike, yet different in so many ways that we can learn from one anothers experiences.

Kunk, Beef and I were in the FOCUS program that I talked about earlier in my posts. Kunk and I have recently left the leadership roles we were once in, however, if not for this amazing organization, we all would not be friends. It just goes to show how truly amazing and perfect God's plan for us is. We may think that we are walking alone in this journey, but it is far from that. The Lord is guiding us with each and every step and he knows where we are going to end up. Trust in the Lord is the most essential thing that I have learned this semester and I am eternally grateful for this lesson.