Things that should one day go in a book from my life...

1. Today I decided my career of choice would be to design tissue boxes. No, seriously! Have you ever looked at a tissue box and thought, "Great grasshoppers....that is the ugliest atrocity known to mankind!"? Or...something along those lines, anyway. My goal would be to design truly pleasant and epic-looking tissue box patterns! I wonder if I could sign a deal with Kleenex? Alas, a Google search proved fruitless.

Why this should go in a book: Because I just know you're having trouble believing I actually have any desire to design tissue boxes. Its the truth, but because its really outrageous, it would make a fantastic life-goal for a book character!

2. I desperately wish to take a piece of chalk, walk down to Main Street, and write on the sidewalk in front of both of the local bars, right at the door, "One should remain sober enough to praise wine." - G. K. Chesterton.

Why this should go in a book: You probably don't believe I literally have this nagging urge to do THAT, either. Also true. That's the sort of thing book characters with personality do. And hey, I live in a small town. Sidewalk chalk provides a lot of entertainment.

3. I was walking down the hall, staggered into the wall, and broke my watch strap clean off the watch itself today.

Why this should go in a book: That is the kind of poor coordination that is just sad. For some reason I tend to stumble into walls with alarming frequency, and book characters just thrive on clumsiness!

So. That would be my life. And that's just today!

Lifehouse Shoutout!

The Lifehouse 'Everything' Skit.

Oh yes.

I would just like to declare my undying love for the band Lifehouse, my particular favorites among their songs being All In, Falling In, Broken, and of course, Everything : ). They have such amazing and beautiful music, and I totally appreciate the message of their songs.

I would also like to thank Chris W., for playing this video for the Youth Group. It made me cry, but in the good way.

And peace out to my older sister, who got to play a role in the Lifehouse Everything Skit last summer (not in this video, no...bummer, right?).

A word about the skit, if you so choose to watch it: Its very deep, and very symbolic. You have to look a little deeper than just the motions and the words...you have to put it together and pay attention to the details. Its a little violent, but in the dramatic, awesome way.

Basic message that I am probably failing to send in this blog post: Jesus saves. Not when we think He should, but when we need him most.

Enjoy : )

Emotional girls should all wear mood rings...

I firmly believe that every guy should hear the song Mood Rings by Reliant K at least ONCE in their life, and every girl should listen to it until she can laugh at herself.

Today has been...emotional. For me, anyway. And that's just me being an emotional girl.

Enjoy the song...either have it explain women to you, or be insulted for 0.5 seconds and than burst out laughing, depending on your status as male or female.

Happiness is...

Having someone to be awkward with. And when you're awkward together, it isn't really awkward anymore!You can blush and smile and laugh and know you have already been excepted for the beautiful mess that you are.

Happiness is realizing that you clung desperately to God, trusting He would make something you wanted with  your whole heart work out, and He did not abandon you. He heard you and answered you, which is basically like getting a kiss from Heaven.

Happiness is being so excited about something you are just giddy and cheerful in situations where you would normally be passive, or even irritated.

Happiness is being able to hope, and dream, and love.

Happiness is the dream you chase until you capture it and it fulfills its promise to bring you joy. If it disappoints you, you look higher, until you find the greatest joy of all.

Happiness is something that has no taste, no smell, no feeling, no sound to it. And yet you can taste, smell, feel, and hear it because happiness is compiled of things that come to your senses, and than come to your heart, blossoming like a flower into something that is undeniably beautiful.

Happiness is twenty minutes singing at the top of your lungs.

Happiness is a day where you take a deep breath and smile because of how perfect it has all been.

Happiness is a day just like today.

Today was really, truly amazing. I forgot to take pictures, but they will forever me held in my heart and in my mind.

Happiness. I wish you much of it : ).

This is one for the guys...

You WISH you were this cool.

First of all, YES! Blogger is working again! *sings a joyful round of the Hallelujah Chorus*

Anyway...

Today, I have A LOT to say, naturally, since I've been unable to blog for over a week. There are quite a few dudes who have made my life particularly epic of late, and I would like to acknowledge them now : ).

1. Fr. Bill H. is amazing, I love him SO much, and I ask that you keep him in your prayers as he is assigned to his new parish!

2. My darling friend who is fondly nick-named 'Squishy' has a ninja for a father. And he's epic.

3. My bestest friend might come see me on Sunday and I miss him terribly!

(Wow...the men in my life are doing a good job of making my day right now.....)

4. The Son of Neptune cover has been released! Squeeee!!! I am SO very excited for this!! Rick Riordan is AMAZING!

5. Every day brings us closer to June 14th, when Adam Young's new CD releases! Check it!

6-7. My baby brothers, depicted above gangsta style, for rocking my world : ).

8. The Great I AM. I love You! <3

Eight of the best guys on the planet, and I just want them all to know what they mean to me.

Peace out.

(P.S. ...according to Blogger, 'squee' and 'bestest' are not words. Please do not use them in polite society if you wish to appear even semi-intelligent. Thank you.)

A Particularly Special Kind of Stupid...

...was exhibited today in our neighborhood.

Three delinquents strolled casually around town with BB guns, shooting birds.

Um, excuse me?
I don't care if it's a BB gun and technically won't kill anyone! It is a weapon and you DO NOT walk around playing with it, shooting harmless birds FOR FUN, in people's yards!

Oh, dude, the ASPCA would have had SUCH a field day with those three.

My mother, sister, and I were just ticked. We wanted to go out and yell at them, knock their heads together, and call the police. And according to this, what they were doing wasn't even LEGAL. Not only were they walking around town, those kids SO were not 16!

Seriously, who thinks that's a good idea!? What parent considers random acts of animal cruelty wholesome fun!? And I don't even LIKE birds!! But there's just something about boys shooting them 'till they're pretty much dead, and than picking them up and carrying them off. Any time anyone is deliberately cruel to someone totally at a disadvantage, it REALLY gets under my skin.

Poor little birds!

And my little brother was cranky because, since there were kids with guns (BB guns, yes, but still) being morons outside our door, our mother wouldn't let him go out and play.

If I was a foot taller, and actually looked my age, I probably would have gone out and given them a piece of my mind.

That is really a very special kind of stupid. Also, a very INFURIATING kind of stupid.


Ok. Rant over. I'm done now.

Thank you.

I Forgot To Dance

(Picture)

You know that uber-cheesy and cliche saying:

'Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.' ??

Awww! How sickeningly motivational!

And yet...kind of true.

Don't you hate that?

Isn't it just outside of enough that life would actually FIT one of those overused stereotypes?

*dies of shame*

But, anyway, there you go.

To put it in plain language and without any pussyfooting around, today really sucked.

A list. Because lists are fun.

1. I need summer shoes.

2. I need shorts.

3. I've gone to town TWICE this week already.

4. I got nothing.

5. I need a job.

6. I CAN'T FIND A JOB!!!

7. I want to go to Rome with my youth group in the winter, yet I'm really anxious about it...

8. ...because I'm short $1600+.

9. Emotional hysteria/breakdown.

10. SAVE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yet, I can't help but think right now, "Man. What if I had just let it all go, sobbed hysterically, and danced atrociously around the house, or even the store, just because I was feeling bad and deserve a little insanity???"

What if I had let myself trust and hope and not let these petty things get me so upset?

What if I had prayed instead of pouted?

What if I had counted my blessings rather than my needs?

What if I had written myself a sticky note that said in bold, red letters: RELAX!!!!!!

Worth pondering.

So I'll tie a figurative string around my finger, in hopes that the next time the torrential downpours of life decides to hover right over me, I'll remember to dance.

Or at least take pictures.