Lesson Learned

God has been teaching me a lesson over this weekend. Actually, it's something my mom used to tell me as a kid, but of course I never listened. The lesson is that if you go your whole life not doing things because you are afraid of getting hurt, then you may miss out on a great opportunity. This happened to me this weekend. My friend Robert from Hebron told me that he liked me on Thursday night and asked me out. He is a great guy, we have a lot in common and have tons of fun together. I was kinda apprehensive about dating again period, because I am sick of getting hurt. I thought about it a lot and prayed about it and I decided that getting hurt is a part of life and a chance I have to take to get to know an awesome guy. So, I guess I am officially dating someone. It is scary and exciting, all at the same time. We are taking it very slow and are gonna do a lot of group dating, which is so fun. There is no pressure and it is a great feeling. He still has his life and I have mine, but together we have fun too. We know a little about each others past and I think that will make our relationship better. He is very sweet and considerate. I just wanted to share this with everyone and get you to pray for us. I haven't had the best track record with dating and guys and I have made a lot of mistakes in the past that I have learned from. I will keep you posted and let you know how it goes.

BTW, total random subject change... my brother in Iraq just got promoted from an E-4 to an E-5. I don't really know what that means exactly, but I do know that is really good. I am so proud of him. Just keep him in your prayers also.

God is my provider

We all know that God is our Jehovah Jireh, our provider, but how much do you ever think about it? At church last night, we were talking about how God provides for us always. It may not always be in the way or at the moment that we want it to, but He never leaves us hanging. God knows when and if we need the things that we want. His timing and our timing aren't always the same. If God gave us everything that we ever wanted, we would never give Him the glory. Think about it.. when we are most fufilled by the world with having everything we want, we are most distant from God. Then, when we want or need something again, we take God back out of the box we placed Him in and ask Him once again for whatever it is that we think we need and can't live without. Pretty true, huh? Why can't we just be so focused on Him and so in love with Him that we allow Him to decide what happens in our lives and when. God meant for things to be relatively simple, and we, as humans, have to make everything so darn difficult. Why is that? The more I get to know Him, the more I realize there is more to Him than I could ever fully understand or grasp. That's why I love Him so much.

So, the next time you ask God for something and He doesn't answer in your timing, don't think of it as an unanswered prayer, think of it as bad timing or something better is coming your way. That is where I am now and that is what He has been teaching me. Put Him first no matter what and then that way, no matter what happens in your life, you will know who is in control and who has the plans for your life... Him, not me, THANK GOD!!!

Stress!!

Man.. God must really be trying to deal with me at this point in my life. I have been struggling a lot lately with a lot of different issues in life. My job isn't what I thought it would be, I feel like I am not accomplishing anything that I want to accomplish, I have had to step back and examine my life and decide where I stand on certain issues and who I really trust. I am finding out who my true friends are and all that. I have been missing my mom a lot lately and it has just been really hard. I know that my God is bigger than anything I am going through, and that fact is what keeps me going and perservering to the end!! I feel as if my world has been turned upside down and I am losing control.. it is a scary feeling.

My awesome weekend

My weekend was rockin!! Considering that I was sick last weekend, it felt good to be able to have fun again. So, Friday night, I went to Inoko's with some girlfriends of mine from Dacula. Our poor waiter had burned his hand on the habachi grill and had blisters everywhere. We made friends with the people sitting next to us and the chef made us animals out of aluminum foil with our leftovers. I got a mermaid, Carrie got a frog, Marsha got a swan, Suko got an octopus and Beth got a purse. The little boy beside me got a Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtle. It was awesome. On Saturday, about ten of my Dacula/Hebron friends were at my house. We ordered four large pizzas and coke. We listened to music, played Trivial Pursuit and Tabu. Then, Suko taught us a cool game called "Silent Football," which has nothing to do with football by the way and Brandy and I showed the gang how to play "Big Booty." I will have to teach it to the Inner G group.. it is really fun. They didn't leave til about 1 am. Then, on Sunday, I taught the preschoolers about Daniel and the Lions Den and we made Lions manes out of paper plates.. I wore mine into the church service and got a lot of funny looks.. oh well. I went home, ate Ravioli, watched some Felicity and chilled. Then my friend Robert came over, along with my brother and sister-in-law. They tried to teach me how to play poker... Texas Hold em and some other stuff.. I stink at Poker and betting chips.. anyways, I had a lot of fun trying. Also, great news.... I talked to my brother yesterday morning from Iraq. It made my day. He is fine.. just please continue to keep him in your prayers.

I am bringing two of my Hebron friends with me to Inner G tonight.. Robert and Clint (whom I went to HS with and graduated with). I am going to go to the mall and eat lunch with a friend and buy my man (Kenny Chesney's ) new CD... YAY!! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stressful week!!

This week has been very tiring, stressful and crazy. I mean, I only have one class and a part-time job, but it seems like this week was very straining on me. I had a test this morning in Stats, which I probably could've studied a little harder for, but I think I did ok anyway. I am not complaining, but I get tired of doing the same thing for six hours at work everyday. Sitting in front of a computer, looking up email addresses, cutting and pasting them into a database.. although, I did get three states worth of churches done this week... Colorado, Iowa, and Kentucky. I have had a zillion things running through my mind this week. Been thinking about my brother in Iraq, Ashlie in Swaziland, issues I am dealing with concerning friends and stuff. I am the kind of person, unfortunately, who sits and thinks about things, analyzes them and dwells on them forever. It stinks, but that is one of my character flaws, I guess. I have a hard time getting over things and letting them go sometimes. And I always think that I can fix everyone else's problems, except for my own. Sorry guys, this is a rambling blog post today. That is the way my mind is ... random ramblings. Can any of you relate? I am sure that you can. Well, I'm gonna go now and see what else I can worry about and analyze over. Until next time.

Continued...

I wasn't really done with the post before I went to class. Anyways, Tammy and I were talking about how I am happy for her, excited about the preparations for the wedding, jealous that she is getting married and truthfully, sad that I am not even dating anyone. It is kinda bittersweet. I mean, we won't be able to have as many girls nights and go paint the town red, yellow and purple. But, most of all, I am very happy for her. I see how awesome she and Andrew are together and how much they love and care about each other. That makes the difference.

So, yeah, I guess I have just been in a mushy, sappy mood lately. I mean part of it goes with the territory.. I am a very high strung, emotional woman, ya know? Anyways, if this is happening to my best friend, then I can' t wait until I get my turn one day. YAY!!

I think I'm ready

After hanging with Tammy last night, gawking over her very beautiful engagement ring and pouring over Bridal Magazines at Starbucks for two hours, I have come to the realization that I am ok being single, but I am ready to start dating again, when the right guy comes alone. I was teasing Tammy about how she had to hook me up with her really nice looking cabana boy friend who I met on our trip to Florida (too bad he lives there, though). Then I was telling her that as her maid of honor, I must be escorted by and dance with the best man and how I hope he is nice and it would be cool if we hooked up (btw, I don't even know the best man and have never met him). I was saying all this to prove that I am ready to be in another relationship, if and when God is ready for it to happen. No rush, though!!

Anyways, I am super excited about being Tammy's maid of honor.. shopping for dresses, planning the bridal shower and bachellorette party, getting hair, nails and makeup done together.. it's gonna be a ton of fun. We were talking last night about how I am excited for her. Gotta go to class now. Talk to you later.

Happy Valentnes Day.. AKA Valloween

My friend Rodney came up with a word to say instead of Valentines Day and that is Valloween... Valentines Day and Halloween mixed together. This would be what the single people would call it, or at least me. Another one of my friends donned Valentines Day SAD day... Singles Awareness Day. Although, I have to say that everyday is a day for me to be aware that I am single, although I am perfectly fine with that. Like Leana Winn said last night. .. when you are single, you don't have to worry about anyone but yourself and what you are doing, you can use your money on other things besides dates and you can dress up for yourself, just because, and you don't have to have a reason. For all of you out there who are dating, engaged, married, whatever, props to you. I hope you get all the roses, chocolate and sweet cards that you deserve. But for all you single people out there, use this day as a reminder that the greatest love is the love that Jesus Christ has for us... HE is the lover of our souls and our best friend. Take some time today and read 1 Corinthians 13, which happens to be my favorite. Spend some time in prayer today and thank God for loving you. Also use today to do something special for someone you love... Melody and I are taking Hershey's kisses to schools in Hall County today to show them how much we appreciate them. Random Acts of Kindness.. that's what I like to call it. So, Happy Valentines Day, Valloween or S. A. D.... whatever you want to call it.

The First Day

Yesterday was my first day at my new job. I emailed 6000 newsletters, which took about 3 hours and put about 200 people and their info into a data base, which took two more hours. I have to finish the emails today, only 5000 more to go. I got to eat lunch with Charles (my boss) and his family. He and his wife Laura have a three year old daughter, Faith and a 10 month old son named Wesley. They are so cute. Faith told me all about the Wiggles and wanted me to play with her. Laura and I talked about Journalism, since she has a degree in that too. She used to work for the Gwinnett Daily Post. It was quite fun. I have to be at work at 12 today. And Tammy is coming over tonight to show off her ring. That's what happening in my world right now. Just keep praying for me. ... I am still sick and have a major tooth ache. Besides that, God rocks. Gotta go to Stats now. Talk to you later!!!

Naptime!!

I never realized how much better taking a nap can make you feel. It's funny how, in kindergarten I hated taking naps, and now, I usually don't have time. Well, I haven't been feeling good for a few days, so Friday I came home from school and took a three hour nap, a two hour one on Saturday and one yesterday after church. I felt so much better after I woke up. Last night I went to bed running a 101 fever. I tossed and turned all night long. I have been taking sinus medicine, aspirin and Echinacea. Well, this morning, my fever was gone.. praise God. I am still sick, but I would rather have the sniffles and eat cough drops, than have a fever. Especially since I start my new job tomorrow, I have to feel good, ya know?


On a happier note, my best friend Tammy called me yesterday and said that her boyfriend Andrew proposed to her on a boat on the lake at Stone Mountain. We screamed and were all excited. I am going to be her maid of honor, which means I get to help her pick out her dress and all that fun stuff. Plus, I get an excuse to dress up and look drop dead gorgeous myself. I am so happy for her! Every little girl dreams of her wedding day and meeting Prince Charming, and now her dream gets to become a reality. We are getting together this week so I can see the rock and we can cry and scream some more.. you know how girls are!!! I think I am gonna head home and do laundry and take another nap before church tonight. Sweet dreams!! Don't let the bed bugs bite!!!

sniff..sniff...sniff

Sniff.. Sniff.. Sniff.. I feel horrible. I couldn't sleep last night. I was freezing, even though I had my electric blanket on high and my heater on high. I mean, I am always cold, but this is insane. I woke up with the sniffles, a back ache, and am still freezing. I never get sick, so this isn't cool. The last time I went to the doctor was eighth grade. Then, my brother missed the bus, so guess who had to take him to school? We spent 15 minutes getting ice off my winshield with the scraper, and I had to get gas. Amazingly, I made it to GC with 10 minutes to spare. Then, in Stats class, this lady in front of me accidentally spilled my entire cup of hot chocolate on the desk, the floor, my notebook, my book satchel and my jacket. As a matter of fact, I still smell hot chocolate now. So, needless to say, my morning hasn't been the best one, but I am sure that it will get better.


Tonight, Tammy and I are supposed to paint the town red (again).. dinner, The Prince and Me, Scrabble.. what more can you ask for. Tomorrow night I am babysitting for MB's Sunday School class and then spending the night with her.. YAY.. Sunday night I will be watching the SuperBowl with Anne... I have too much to do this weekend to be sick. Oh well, life goes on. That is what I say. I think I am gonna go see who is in the Student Center, so I can run my mouth. Then, I am going home and going to sleep... that always makes me feel better.