I Was Tagged!

I was tagged by Mrs. H

* Grab the nearest book.
* Open the book to page 56.
* Find the fifth sentence.
* Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your blog along with these instructions.
* Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.
* Tag five other people to do the same.

"He made your eyes, and can discern
Whichever way you think to turn:
He made your ears and he can hear,
When you think nobody is near:
In every place by night or day,
He watches all you do and say."

The nearest book was sitting on my fireplace mantle. It's a book of children's poetry that I got from a bookstore in Canterbury, England. It was published in 1851. It's got some really good poems in it.

I don't have five people to tag, but I'll tag John and Erich.

A Gorgeous Day Outside

I got the chance to spend most of the afternoon outside. It was a beautiful day. I had about two hours to "kill" between my last class and I decided to go sit beside one of the ponds that is on campus. I've sat out there before, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite places. It's a quiet place to read, think, or pray. It was nice to spend some quiet time to myself.






I received an email this afternoon with this song attached: "You Don't Laugh Anymore" by Greg Whitfield. It's a really good song and it's funny that he should send me that song. Lately I've been thinking about the very thing the song talks about: love. In our culture, we are bombarded with symbols and examples of love. All of them seem so superficial, so temporary. People fall in and out of love, like that is what's supposed to happen. And this isn't just in the movies and music-this is in real life too. It's sad. It makes my heart break. It scares me because I don't want that to happen to me. How can you pour your whole heart and soul into another person's life, and all-of-a-sudden "fall out of love" with them? The whole concept of "love" is twisted and warped. I know for a fact that you can't base something that phenomenally important on feelings. Emotions are up and down all the time. You can't live your life by them. I'm still trying to nail down what love is to me. I used to think it was a decision, that you consciously decided to love someone, no matter what. I still hold to that, but on the other hand, I believed that you couldn't "fall out of love" with someone. It contradicts the earlier statement. If you decide to love someone, you can decide not to love them as well. It's something that's learned, I suppose. Definitely something to think about. I think 1 Corinthians 13 could shed some light on that subject. I believe I'll go look it up right now.

Hello to a Much Anticipated Weekend

It's the weekend!!! You might be wondering why it was much anticipated. Well, that's a good thing to wonder because that phrase hints at something spectacular happening. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm so very glad it's the weekend just because it's the weekend. No classes! Time to relax. Just the wonderful feeling you get knowing it is Saturday. That's all. I'm not that hard to please most of the time. But you might not want to ask my parents or close friends to qualify that statement. :)



Something of note is happening this weekend, actually. The celebration of my 20th year on this planet. That's a pretty big accomplishment, don't you think? I survived the terrible twos, the giggly pre-teen years, up-and-down teen years, and my first year of college-and my parents didn't take me out! :) I've gained a lot of knowledge, some experience, and small amount of wisdom. Life has taught me to be strong, to laugh a lot, even through the tears, and to be kind to people.

That's all for now. :)

My South

I've been thinking this morning, about how much I love The South. It's so much apart of me, even as much as the blood running in my veins. It's my heritage, my home, and my pride. I'm not so naive to think that everything here is perfect. Far from it. But the things that make it a part of me are not really found in a geographic location. It's a mentality, a way of life. That I will carry with me wherever I find myself in the next few years, and throughout my life. I wrote something a few years ago called My South. Some of it is pretty childish, but don't we all wish we were still children sometimes? I've edited it some, and added more to it.

My South:
*The smell of Sunday Dinner cooking in Granny's kitchen
*Shellin' peas on the front porch swing
*Dinner on the ground at church
*Going to sleep on the front porch swing
*Weddings in the spring
*Swimming in the creek
*Christmas at Bernice and Nancy’s house
*Hiding Easter eggs with my little cousins
*The smell of fall in the air
*The sound of crickets and bullfrogs on warm summer nights
*Walking across the pasture
*Riding the 4-Wheeler in the woods
*Walking to Granny’s church on Sunday morning
*Sunrise services
*Bottle feeding a baby calf
*Playing in the hay loft
*Climbing trees
*Playing in the woods
*Riding bikes to the store to get candy and ice cream
*Playing on the magnolia tree that fell across the creek
*The taste of honeysuckle
*Flying the Flag no matter who's in office
*Standing in the kitchen talking with all the women
*An ice-cold glass of sweet tea on a hot summer afternoon
*The sound of a whippoorwill late at night
*Old gospel hymns that feel new again each time you sing them
*Week-long revival services


In the South, there is a strong sense of family, of pride, and of patriotism. Morals and religion are ingrained in daily life. The people are real and honest.

These are some quotations that really describe what I'm talking about:

"Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It's more than where you're born, it's an idea and state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, football, and country music. It's being hospitable, devoted to front porches, magnolias, moon pies and coca-cola...and each other. We don't become Southern-we're born that way."

"The South--where roots, place, family, and tradition are the essence of identity."

"In the South, the breeze blows softer... neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative. (By contrast with the Yankee, the Southerner never uses one word when ten or twenty will do). This is a different place. Our way of thinking is different, as are our ways of seeing, laughing, singing, eating, meeting and parting. Our walk is different, as the old song goes, our talk and our names. Nothing about us is quite the same as in the country to the north and west. What we carry in our memories is different, too and that may explain everything else."

"The biggest myth about Southern women is that we are frail types-fainting on our sofas...nobody where I grew up every acted like that. We were about as fragile as coal trucks."

"A southern girl is a girl who knows full and well that she can open a door for herself but prefers for the gentleman to do it because it demonstrates a sense of respect. After all, every girl wants to be treated like a princess. We know how to make sweet tea and grits while telling you everything about any football team in the SEC. We pick our battles and fight with the heart of a pit bull while still maintaining grace and elegance. Our mystique is that of a soft-spoken, mild-mannered southern bell who could direct an army, loves her momma and will always be daddy's little girl."

I think that says it all...for now.

Hilariousness and Habits

I realized something today: I'm forming a habit. Whether it's good, bad, or indifferent, I don't know. I'm becoming a hair twirler. When I wear my hair down, I twirl a piece of my hair around my finger. This just started a couple of weeks ago, and I only noticed it the other day. I thought it was strange that I just started this. I'm also doodling a lot more than usual. Hmm. I'm sure there's some psychological reason or meaning behind it, but I'm not really sure I want to know...

Rebecca and I were coming back from the Co-op today, stopped at a red light, and saw the most hilarious thing I've seen in ages. A big guy on a motorcycle. Ok, so that's not hilarious in itself, but what he had on his head was. He was wearing a helmet with huge-and when I say huge, I mean about 5 feet wide-pair of longhorn cow horns attached. Oh my goodness. We didn't laugh very hard at first, cause he could probably see us, but when he drove by we both DIED laughing, and we didn't stop for a good 10 minutes. Oh what I would have given for a camera! That totally made my day.

Right now I'm sitting outside on our patio. The weather is absolutely heavenly. Sunny and the perfect temperature. I'm really supposed to be writing a translation paper on Chaucer, but I've got a method that I have to go through before a paper of mine actually gets written. Ok, so that's a fancy way of saying I procrastinate, but I thought it was clever at least... We'll just say I'm practicing my typing...that excuse will work for now.

Some Lyrics to Think About

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I go from nothing to eternity
Hosanna in the highest

Rainbows and Sunshine

I don't have much to post today. Just a picture I took this afternoon and some random thoughts.

I was sitting in the kitchen this afternoon when all of a sudden it started raining. I opened the back door and listened to the rain. The sun was still shining as it was raining, which made a rainbow in the back of our yard. I grabbed my camera and took a picture of it. Pretty neat, if I do say so myself.

On a more serious note, I'm praying for everyone in Texas and Western Louisiana tonight because hurricane Ike is making landfall. A pretty bad storm from what I've seen on the weather channel. So far all my friends and family are all right, and I think they'll ride out the storm just fine. My worst fear is power outages. Then I won't be able to talk on the phone with them! I talk to my mom every day, it would be weird to miss a call. I also talk to Erich almost every day, so that would be weird too. It just occurred to me that what I just wrote was incredibly selfish. I'm sitting here worrying about not getting to talk on the phone with my friends and family, and there are people who are in the middle of a hurricane! I hope there's not a lot of damage from the storm.

Tomorrow is the second home game of the season. We're playing Auburn. We beat them last year away, so surely we can beat them this year. I hope anyway! It will be a very loud game in any case. Starkville is packed to the brim right now. With Bulldog Bash this weekend and all the visitors from Alabama it's impossible to get anywhere tonight. That's why I'm at home sitting on my couch! Even the gas stations were running out of gas. Gee whiz. Anyway, I'm very excited about the game tomorrow! Go Dawgs!!! :)

I'm waiting on a phone call, and then going to watch a movie! Should be a fun night. :)

Hasta luego, mis amigos!

Philippians

Philippians 1:9-11
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.

This verse stood out to me one night last year when I was reading my Bible. I rediscovered it the other night, and it still had the same power and application in my life. I really want my life to reflect these verses. My life's goal is contained in them. I want my love to grow. I want to gain knowledge and insight. I desire to learn discernment because so much hurt and pain can be avoided if you just discern things a little better.

Philippians 4:11-13
...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

While I have not yet learned how to be content in every situation I find myself in, that is certainly something I want to attain. Sometimes I feel like I'm so far away from contentment. I'm workin on it though. :)

Just thought I'd share some things I've been thinking about.

It's Definitely Wednesday

Well, I've had a pretty interesting week so far.

It started out pretty good. Sunday morning, my sister and I visited a different church. It wasn't really different for me, because I went to First Baptist all last year, but she hadn't been before. The service was really good, even though the regular pastor didn't preach. I really like Bro. Chip. He's a great pastor. The guest speakers were really good too though. I hadn't been to a church service in a while actually, due to various circumstances, which is really, really odd for me. It made me appreciate it a little more.

Sunday afternoon, me and my sis decided to go to the student rec center on campus, because I had heard about a beginner dance class. We went, and after a good bit of awkwardness, the class got started. When the instructor explained the footwork for salsa dancing, and told everyone to get a partner, I kinda just stood there... I looked to be the only one without a partner, but luckily for me, one of the guys helping with the class volunteered. That was awesome, because I didn't really have the steps down yet, and it definitely helps dancing with a guy who knows what he's doing! We rotated partners several times, until I had introduced myself to about 20 guys, I swear. lol. It was fun. I'm going back next Sunday.

Well, yesterday proved to be rather...eventful, shall we say. It was wet, rainy, and generally a yucky day. I was driving home from class, kinda in one of those oblivious moods...not a good thing when you're driving... Yes, you can probably tell where I'm headed with this. I rear ended someone. The wet roads didn't allow me to stop in time and bang, I ran into the car in front of me. Not a good way to end off the day. Oh well. No one was hurt, and my car was still in one piece...I take that back. It was actually in four pieces. One of the cops (the younger, cuter one) was nice enough to pick up my licence plate, and two other plastic pieces from my crappy plastic car out of the road. It's still drivable though, so that's good.

I was sitting in the kitchen just now, drinking a cup of hot tea (berry flavored) when a sudden melancholy hit me. Maybe because I'm trying to study for my psychology test... Or maybe because I miss some pretty special people. It's hard being away from home. I didn't struggle with this so much last year, I don't know why it's a major issue this year. Part of growing up, I suppose. On that note, I need to get back to neurons, the cerebellum, and biopsychology, but I'll leave you with a rather comical picture I took the other day:

Wicket was trying to read Chaucer...

Homework puts me to sleep too, Wicket.

So It Begins

Tonight was the first home football game of the season. After a disappointing defeat last weekend, we were really ready for tonight's game. When my sister and I arrived on campus, you could definitely tell that it is football season. There were people talegating everywhere and there was a sea of maroon walking down the sidewalk. And then I hear the glorious sound of ringing cowbells...ah, I had forgotten how much I love going to games! We met up with some friends, and after stopping by the BSU tailgate, we headed to the gate. Now, I must say that cowbells are illegal in the stadium, and have been for years...BUT, it's only an official rule really. They've never done anything about students who stash them in a purse or back pocket even. Well, when we got to the gate there was a long line, which I thought was unusual. Turns out, we hear from the front of the line, they're searching bags, patting people down, and confiscating cowbells. WHAT?!?!? How dare they?! What's an MSU home game without cowbells! I was rather outraged. I had no way of sneaking my cowbell in. Some of my friends managed to put theirs under clothing, and made it through the gate. I wasn't able to do that, so we called a friend, and he rescued my cowbell from being confiscated. I was ticked off that I couldn't take my cowbell to the game, but nonetheless, still excited about the game. We got through the gate and managed to find where my friends were sitting (because one of them was standing up, ringing her cowbell lol). It was an awesome game. We were playing Southeastern Louisiana. We fully expected to win this game, but then again, we're talking about the Bulldogs...they are not always consistent, shall we say? There were a lot of people there, not only in the student section, but also in the rest of the stadium. We have a huge fan base. There was a teeny tiny section of green and yellow, and the rest maroon! There were some great plays and exciting moments. And my friends are awesome! Because I was lacking a cowbell, I yelled and clapped my hands. Those bulldogs have the idea...my hands hurt and my voice was hoarse when the game ended. I'm finding some way of getting my cowbell in the stadium next game! Oh, and at halftime, the band did a Michael Jackson show. I'm not a big fan, but the whole band did the Thriller dance at the end-that was awesome!!! :) After winning the game 34 to 10 and singing one more round of the fight song, we all headed to our cars and went out for ice cream at Bop's. A perfect ending to the night! I cannot wait til the next home game!!! :)

"Que Sera Sera"

I just spent a quiet, peaceful, wonderful evening at home by myself. My sister was gone for the evening, so I had the house to myself. Depending on what kind of mood you are in, that can be good or it can be miserable. Thankfully, I was in very pleasant humor, a far cry from the past few days. More on that later. I decided to put on my favorite movie, Pride and Prejudice (the 1940s version), and give myself a manicure and a peticure. I sat in the floor of the livingroom doing my nails, drinking sweet tea, and listening to the sound of raindrops outside. I cannot tell you how much pleasure those simple things gave me, nor how much I needed a night like tonight. And of course, I documented my wonderful evening, and will share with all of you. :)




Before...




After! Now I have red nails and the attitude to match! (Girls, y'all will know what I'm talking about. I don't think you guys will have a clue.)


I was talking to my mom on the phone tonight. We had a great conversation not just about general topics, but some good stuff. She said a phrase I've not heard in a long time, but it just fit what I've been thinking about and dealing with recently: "Que Sera Sera." It's Spanish and means "What will be, will be." It is even the name of a song. When she said that, it was one of those things where you stop and say, "Hmm..." It just epitomized the conclusion I've reached, even the reason for my good mood. I have to not concentrate and worry about things in my life I have no control over. What will be, will be. The things I can control, I need to do my best to improve. This whole concept isn't new, just new at this stage in my life, if that makes sense.

It rained again today, but I had a different perspective of the rain this time. It was soothing, refreshing, and welcomed. I got a quick shower on the way to English Lit this morning, but that wasn't a bad thing because it's pretty hot in the classroom. This evening, listening to the sound of the rain outside was so...theraputic almost. Later tonight, I went out on the patio, and just stood there, in the quiet-but-not-so-quiet of the night. It was sprinkling, and I let the tiny raindrops fall on me. It felt almost like tiny kisses all over my arms and face. That combined with the sound and the smell was blissful. I thank God for the rain!


Right now I'm watching Sara Palin's speech from the RNC. I'll let you know my opinion of that later. :)


Buenas noches!

Rainy Day

Rain, rain, rain... I'm about sick of rain. It's almost a strange phenomenon to me, having been in Texas all summer where there was a drought. It's like, "What is this strange wet stuff that keeps falling out of the sky?" I really can't complain though, because it keeps the temperature cool (-er that is). It's not so fun walking between classes and getting soaked, but oh well.

I have decided to make a goal for myself. I'm not goal-driven individual per say, nor am I one of those people who plows ahead with something they've set their mind to, but I think it's important for everyone to have goals and ambitions. I have plenty of ambition (even though people might not know it), but I think setting some goals will help me reach those ambitions. So on to the goal. I have decided to start running. My goal is to be able to run a mile by the beginning of the year. This might not seem like a huge deal to some people, but if you know me well at all, it would be an accomplishment. Running is something I really enjoy. I love the rythm, the beat, the movement. It's also something that I haven't been able to do much of in the past. But I'll overcome those limitations. I'm tired of not doing something because I've told myself (and others have told me) that I can't do. So I'm going to do it.

I am sick and tired of feeling out of control of my life. I'm tired of circumstances controlling me. I'm tired of worring about the things I cannot change. I'm tired of being weak. I'm tired of being the person who has to work with other people, who can't accomplish anything on her own. I need to get some backbone when it comes to dealing with people, and not let everyone push me around. I have noticed lately that the people I'm around influence me greatly. Most of the time that's a good thing, especially if you're around some amazing people. But what about me? Should I not be influencing people (for the better) as well? I want the good things about me, the interesting things, the things I love to do-to stand out, and for people to take notice. I've come to the point where I'm going to let go of the things in my life that I cannot control (as much as I'd like to control them) and I'm going to give them to the One who has ultimate control. And the things in my life I can control (but don't) are going to change. I'm going to change them.

On another note, Labor Day weekend was this past weekend. Me and My sister made the 11 hour trek home on Friday. We took a different route that normal, but that turned out pretty well. We spend a great weekend home, got to see my Dad, along with the rest of my family. It was so good to be home again. Especially after being homesick the past week or two. Well, when time came to plan on heading back, matters were complicated by Gustav. Hurricane Gustav (or "Goo-stove" as I heard it pronounced on the radio as we drove through Arkansas). Because of the hurricane making landfall the very same day we needed to drive back, we took an alternate route, furthur north, through Arkansas. Well, following a road that did some really squirrly things when you came to a town, we naturally missed a roadsign, and wound up two counties north of where we should have been, on a totally different highway. Can you say frustrated? Well, that's what we were. So we dug out the map, and found a tintsy wintsy road that would take us back to the highway. Little did we know that it would take us through po-dunk Arkansas. I just knew that we would be abducted by some hillbilly named Bubba... It was pretty comical actually, me and my sister making jokes about Gustav and Bubba out to get us. And the sceanery wasn't half bad either. It was a very agricultural part of Arkansas, where there were huge fields of any kind of crop you could imagine, and the small farmhouses to go with them. We got pictures. I'll post some of those on here later, so you'll get a better appreciation of how far off the beaten path we really were. Well, to make a long story short, we got back to the highway, and sucessfully made it to our destination. It took us a grand total of 15 hours, and we didn't get home until midnight. That made for a very, Very, VERY long day. I do not wish to repeat that particular journey again, so I'll just document it here for your enjoyment/amusement.

Well, I must be off to Spanish now. Adios Amigos. Hasta luego.