Now there's not even breathing room between pleasure and pain

It's a little hard to know where to begin this since it's been so long and so much has happened since I've written here, but I'm going to give it a try anyway. Several people have asked me how my summer was and it's easier and less complicated to answer it one time on here than several times various other places.

( this is my summer- the reader's digest version )

I love Jonathan. Okay, not really in that way, but he is pretty awesome. He had a final this morning but he called to wake me up afterwards. Seems I had turned my phone off so he only got my voice mail, but he later told me he spent like 3 minutes trying to leave me the perfect message in which he blasted some upbeat jazz tune and sang goodmorning to me. *lol* He's such a dork but it's awesome. What's really crazy is that I've only actually been with him in person for a couple hours but we've talked twice that long on the phone this week. I'm afraid when I see him Monday we're not going to have anything else to say to one another. It should be interesting at any rate.

On another note, I have got to finish packing today. My dad's coming at 1:30 to load up my big stuff, including my computer, so I've got to be ready by then. I guess it's time to stop procrastinating!

Ugh, I am so tired. I guess that's what having a cold does to you. I'm really feeling a lot better than I was on Monday so I guess that's a good thing. I can sing right now so I guess I'll be okay by this weekend. My head is still really stopped up and I can't hear anything at the moment, but I can sing, which was my goal, so I guess I'm happy.

Jonathan called me this afternoon and we talked for another hour. I swear I could talk to him forever, and that's just crazy. I've only met him twice and we barely got a chance to say two words to each other then, but on the phone we're both nuts. We've already decided that we're getting together to do something for our birthdays since mine is June 29 and his is June 30. The bad news (I guess it's bad news if I allow myself to think about this romantically) is that he's a year younger than me. I guess that's not that much, and I'm not sure that I'm interested in him in that way, but it's something to ponder. I've never been able to really connect with a guy that was younger than me. All my guy friends have always been a couple of years older than me, so I'm curious to see where this goes. I really want to push and find out a little more about his daughter and his ex-fiancee but I think it might be a little soon for that. I guess he'll open up more to me as we go along. Should be interesting.

On another note, finals are officially over! :) I took my History of Rome final on Monday and I had my American Revolution final today so I'm done. Unfortunately I have to stay until Saturday because of RA duties and I think I just might go crazy. I have to pack up my room tonight and tomorrow because my dad is coming up on Friday to move my big stuff like my refrigerator back home. Then I actually get to go home on Saturday afternoon. I'm suppose to start working at my old job at Hammers on the 16th and I'm really glad I gave myself a week off to rest after moving back home. That's always such a chore; not to mention I have revival three nights next week that I have to sing for. It's going to be a busy week, but fun. I'm looking forward to being home for the summer. I always say that I want to go away and do a cool internship or something, but I really just want to be home. I can't stay away for too long. I guess that makes me a baby, but I just really miss everybody. I live for summers at home with my friends. I want to savor every moment because I know I'll have to enter the real world soon and things won't be the same.

It's really cool how one phone call can do so much. WIth all this youth choir stuff going on, I've gotten to meet some really cool people. One of them is Jonathan who is actually in charge of the choir. Anyway, I got a call from Janeen yesterday telling me that they were going to have choir practice this Thursday night. I, of course, can't go because I won't move back home until Saturday. So I had to call Jonathan and tell him. I was a little nervous because I hadn't really talked to him at practice and I wasn't sure he would remember who I was. I called and left a message earlier today and told him to call me back. He called me back about an hour ago and we've been talking ever since. It's so weird to talk to someone and instantly feel that connection with them. He made me laugh and since I'm still feeling yucky that was a welcome thing. I told him I was sick and he told me all his secrets to save my vocal cords so I can sing Monday night. And then he was playing the piano while we were on the phone and he made me sing and he goes "ah, you still sound good even when you're sick." He was just so incredibly awesome to talk to. Justin had already told me a little about Jonathan's past but he opened up and told me as well and I just listened. He had a little girl with his fiancee, and just a little over a month ago his fiancee left him and got married to someone else. He kept apologizing for talking so much but I really enjoyed just listening to him. It's really cool how much I felt like I know him after this conversation and he said the same thing. He's supposed to call me tomorrow so we can talk a little more. It's so awesome to make a new friend like that. God certainly knows what he's doing.

I had a lot of fun this weekend, but I'm paying for it now. We had a lock-in on Friday night at my church and I ended up staying all night. Not only that, but we literally sang the entire night. My voice is absolutely shot. To make matters worse, we had our first Knox area youth choir practice on Saturday so I had to sing again. Then we all went out to eat and we were out pretty late. Keep in mind that I hadn't had much sleep before this either. Then I had to get up early on Sunday morning for church. We went to church, came home and I went to the store to get some things to cook for the fellowship that night. We ate lunch and then Salem and I started cooking. By the time we finished we had just enough time to go get dressed and drive to Knoxville for choir practice again. Then we went back to church Sunday night and afterwards we went to our fellowship. I stayed there until almost 9:00 and then I drove 2 hours back to school. Needless to say I'm wiped out and my throat is killing me. I've got to go out and get some OTC medicine later because I need to be well by this weekend.

But on the bright side, this weekend was a lot of fun. We had so much fun singing Friday night/Saturday morning. Kara, Justin's cousin came and sang with us and we had a great time. And Saturday was a lot of fun. Justin showed up at choir practice and then he went out to eat with us afterward. I wish I'd had my camera with me because I'd never seen him in anything but a suit and he looked so good! His brother (Derrik) and two of his cousins (Bradley and Reggie) showed up so I got to meet them, too. I'd met Reggie a week before and I love him. He's so funny and he always makes sure everyone has a good time.

I thought I'd throw this picture in for anyone that wanted to see what Justin looked like. It's not the best picture of him because it certainly doesn't do him justice but you can get the idea. He's the young one in the middle of the picture.

( Justin and the deacons )

These past two days have been hard but not as hard as I was expecting. My pastor's funeral was last night and it really couldn't have gone better. It was much more of a celebration of his life and that's how it should be. The Spirit was just so moving through everyone and it was impossible not to smile through the tears. I thank God that He sent that comfort to all of us. We've got a long road ahead but He's helped us take the first step. The graveside service earlier today went well, too. Justin spoke and he just did a wonderful job. It was raining and it should have been so very sad but as several people said, it's not goodbye just I'll see you in the morning.

I know God doesn't make mistakes and I can already see Him using Don's death in many ways. I can see Him working in other people's lives, but I can also tell that this whole thing has really brought our church closer together. It's really hard to explain to people how much I love my church. They're like my family which is due in part to the fact that I've gone to church there my entire life. They've watched me grow up and they've grown up with me. I genuinely love them with all my heart and I would do anything in the world for them. I could not have asked God for a better church. He knew exactly what He was doing when He placed me there. And I can just feel us all drawing closer together for support. These are the times when we really need each other.

I've really enjoyed the time I've gotten to spend with my youth group and with Justin over the past couple of days. We've been seeing a lot of one another and it's definitely a good thing. We're slowly getting Justin used to our church and I think he's loving it. He brought his cousin with him last Sunday night and we got him involved, too. Reggie is just insane and I love him! He's such a free spirit but he's grounded in God, too. I just love to sit back and watch what he's going to do next.

The next couple of days are actually going to be pretty busy for me, but I'm looking forward to the distraction before finals next week. Tomorrow I'm helping with the Special Olympics and then I'm going back home to help out at a lock-in at my church which won't be over until Saturday morning. Then Saturday afternoon I have to go to the first practice of the Knoxville area youth choir which Justin got several of us involved in. I also have to find some time on Saturday to cook for the fellowship we're having for Justin after church on Sunday night. So I've got church Sunday morning and Sunday night and then the fellowship, and then I have to come back to school to get ready for finals week. It makes me tired just thinking about it all, but I really am looking forward to spending time with everybody. God has really blessed me with some amazing friends.

Stolen from weightofair

Name Four Bad Habits You Have:
1. procrastination
2. biting my nails
3. spacing out in a conversation
4. procrastination... yes I know I listed it twice.


Name Four Scents You Love:
1. the ocean
2. fresh cut grass
3. Honeysuckles
4. Gingerbread


Name Your Top Four TV Shows
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Desperate Housewives
3. ER
4. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition


Name Your Top Four Movies
1. Braveheart
2. The Princess Bride
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
4. Ocean's 11


Name Four People That Know You the Best:
1. Salem
2. Mom
3. Beth
4. Amanda

Name Four Things You Are Thinking About Now:
1. Justin
2. MCAT
3. Paper that's due Thursday that I haven't started on
4. Only 2.5 weeks left of school!


Name Four Things That You Have Done Today:
1. Took a shower
2. Went to class
3. started my thesis lab work
4. went to the Christian book store to get a tape for a song I'm singing Sunday

Name Four Drinks You Regularly Drink:
1. Water
2. Diet Coke
3. Orange juice
4. Diet Root Beer

I should not let a guy have this much control over my emotions, especially one that I'm not dating, but Justin just called me, and I'm so incredibly giddy. I know I'm acting like an idiot but I can't help that talking to him makes me smile. He's such an incredible guy and he's really easy to talk to. He's one of those people that I feel like I know really well even when I don't. I would tell him things that it would take other people a while to draw out of me. I know I'm being a dork over this, but I needed to gush to somebody and my sister's not home and my mom just keeps talking to me like I'm making a big mistake. But I want to be happy about this so I'm not going to let anyone burst my bubble yet. Things like this make me happy even if it is rainy and yucky outside. :)

I'm in a really weird mood right now. Like I know I should be incredibly upset right now but I just have this peace over me that is only from God. As some of you may know, my church is very, very important to me and we've been dealing with a lot of stuff lately. First of all, our pastor has been battling cancer for 12 years and every time he's had a bout with it, God has always seen fit to bring him back again. But it doesn't look like that's going to happen this time. He went into the hospital the Thursday before Easter and he's not been back at church since then. He had surgery to stop his internal bleeding but there were some complications from that and he had to have a second emergency surgery. Then, one day last week, he finally decided he'd had enough. There was really nothing else they could do for him because he simply couldn't live because he was having to get blood tranfusions at alarming rates. So he decided to call in hospice and go back home. This is a man who never misses a church service. Even when they had to role him up to the front pew in a wheelchair because he was too weak to walk from the back of our very small church to the front, he still came and he praised God with all he had. So to not have him present for our Easter services nor the services this past Sunday was very sobering. Last night, the youth put on their Easter musical again and after church we all decided to go see our pastor and sing to him since he couldn't be at church.

It's really one of those odd things where you try to do something to help someone else and they end up helping you more than you helped them. That's the case with Don last night. I have no doubt that this man got a blessing from the few songs we sung, but you could just see on everyone else's faces that we were the ones who were really blessed. He was barely lucid from the pain medicine but he still raised his hand to praise God as we sang. It was tough to even get through a song because of the tears. And when we finished singing, it really started to hit me that this would probably be the last time I would ever see this man alive. Our youth director, Lecia, approach the hospital bed and took our pastor's hand before saying goodbye. She reminded him of how much we all loved him and the many miles we'd all walked together. And then (and it still makes me cry just thinking about it), he closed his eyes and started singing "I don't regret one mile I walked for the Lord". To hear his broken, frail voice struggle to get those words out still makes my heart ache, but it makes it soar at the same time. I had the privilege of watching one of the old saints of God really communicate to the Lord. He wasn't singing for our benefit, but he was singing straight to God and it's something I will never forget as long as I live.

I can't remember what all Don said last night, and I know I'll kick myself for that later, but I think I'll always remember the way the presence of God visited that room last night. The way that I was encouraged in a way I never had been and the fact that the encouragement came in the face of death. I probably won't see him again until I get to Heaven, but the inspiration that he was to me will carry on until I die. Because I want exactly what he had. I don't want to regret one mile but I want to sell out to God completely. I don't want to hold anything back. I want to look back on my life and say that I did all I could for God. I don't want to wonder what would have happened if I'd done something differently. I want to say that I've done all I can.

I don't know how I'm going to handle the funeral. I know our choir is singing at it as Don has already requested, but I want more than anything for it to be a celebration. I know his family and Don would want the same thing. In a weird since I'm jealous; Don is going home- to Heaven. To a place that I've dreamed of my entire life, and I don't know if I've ever been able to honestly say that I want to go there so badly. I've been saved since I was six but I've always selfishly wanted to stay here because there are so many things I want to do with my life. But to trade it all for Heaven... I would do it in a heartbeat.

Needless to say my church is a rut right now. I'm not sure that's the right word but it's the best I can come up with. We've asked Justin to be our interim pastor and he's supposed to be praying about it. Honestly, I think God put him there for that reason- the timing was just too perfect- but if he doesn't feel God leading them I'm not sure what we're going to do. It's going to be a rough time for us all and I know it's going to take a lot of prayer to get through. But I can't give up. As easy as it would be for me to try and find another church, I can't let myself do that. These are my brothers and sisters in Christ and I can't let them down right now. I don't want to leave because that would be the easy way out. I want God to intervene in a mighty way and show us where we should go. I know He can and I know He will.

But inspite of all this, I feel strangely calm. I feel like I've grown so much in God lately and I know it's His peace that's keeping me going. Sure I cry, but when I think about it, it's mostly because I'm overcome with the way that God's working. Of course I'm sad, but that's selfish of me and I won't let myself show it much. Even when I try to have a pity party it doesn't last very long. God's been so good to me that I just can't get over it. He put something down inside of me and I haven't gotten over it yet. I pray that I never do. I feel like I'm going through somethings right now that only he can handle. And I was reminded by Justin that I am a soldier in God's army and because of that I have some promises. I wanted to post this more as a reminder to myself but if it helps anybody else then praise God.

I am a soldier in the Army of My God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer.
The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.

Faith, Prayer and the Word
are my weapons of Warfare.
I have been taught by the Holy Spirit,
trained by experience,
tried by adversity,
and tested by fire.

I am a volunteer in this Army,
and I am enlisted for eternity.
I will either retire in this Army at the rapture
or die in this Army;
but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out,
I am faithful, capable, and dependable.

If My God needs me,
I am there.
If He needs me in Sunday school to teach children,
work with the youth, help adults, or just sit and learn.
He can use me,
because I am there!

I am a soldier.
I am not a baby.
I do not need to be pampered,
petted, primed up, pumped up,
picked up, or pepped up.

I am a soldier. No one has to call me,
remind me,
write me, visit me,
entice me, or lure me.

I am a soldier.
I am not a wimp.
I am in place, saluting my King,
obeying His orders, praising His name,
and building His kingdom!

I am a soldier.
No one has to send me flowers,
gifts, food,
cards, candy,
or give me handouts.

I do not need to be cuddled, cradled,
cared for, or catered to.
I am committed!

I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to turn me around.
I cannot be discouraged enough to turn me aside.
I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.

When Jesus called me into this Army,
I had nothing.
If I end up with nothing,
I will still come out even.

I will win.
My God will supply all my needs.
I am more than a conqueror.
I will always triumph.
I can do all things through Christ.

I am a soldier.
Devils cannot defeat me.
People cannot disillusion me.
Weather cannot weary me.
Sickness cannot stop me.
Battles cannot beat me.
Money cannot buy me.
Governments cannot silence me,
and Hell cannot handle me!

I am a soldier.
Even death cannot destroy me.
For when my commander calls me from this battlefield,
He will promote me to a captain
and then bring me back to rule this world with Him.

I am a soldier in the Army,
and I'm marching, claiming victory.
I will not give up.
I will not turn around.

I am a soldier,
marching Heaven bound.
Here I stand!

Will you stand with me?

In honor of Easter. Thought someone else might get as much out of it as me.

( You Chose the Nails )

Today's actually turned out better than I thought. It's been a sort of stressful week even though I've gotten everything finished like I was supposed to, but a couple of good things have happened today. I found out that even though I've been majorly slacking in my evolution class (coupled with the fact that it's co-taught by a professor that rarely gives an A to anyone) I still have a pretty high B in there. There's a decent chance I could pull it up to a B+ or A- by the end of the semester.

In other good news, I met with my thesis advisor today and he didn't think I was stupid because I didn't completely understand the opsoninization and phagocytosis in crayfish. I was worried he was going to look at me and go "you're not cut out for this". But he seemed pleased that I understood as much as I did and he gave me a new assignment to read for next week: a 58 page thesis called "Mannose and Lipopolysaccharide Receptors on the Surface of Granular Hemocytes from the Crayfish Procambarus clarkii". Sounds like fun, right? I have to have it read by next Thursday and then we're going to meet and discuss a title for my thesis. I feel like I'm getting a good head start considering that most of my classmates don't even know what they're doing yet.

I was thinking about shirts that we could have made for my church's retreat and I found this website where you can design them so I was playing around last night. Here's what I came up with: http://customink.com/cink/r.jsp?E=shazaam_am%40yahoo.com&F=rebels The text on the back looks small there, but it says "Jesus was born of a virgin, suffered under Pontius Pilate, died on a cross, and rose from the dead to make worshippers out of rebels." That is definitely my favorite quote of the moment. I think that even if we don't order those for the retreat, I'm still going to have one made for me and my sister.

I've still got to go the gym tonight among a few other things, but I think I'm going to take a nap now. I deserve a little rest.

I know some of you have asked me what I've been working on for my church's retreat so since I finally finished actually writing out session one, I thought I'd post for anyone who wanted to see what it was all about. I haven't proofed it that well yet, so there will probably be typos and I haven't attributed some of the things I've quoted but it's enough for you to get the general idea. I'm really excited about this topic and I'm excited to see what Justin (who is going to be our guest speaker) will come up with to lead the sessions.

( session one )

Of course if you have any contructive criticism I'm happy to hear it.

Hope everybody's having a good day.

I'm not sure when we start registering for classes but I think this is what I'm going to be taking:

MW
Neurobiology 8:15-10:15
Biochemistry of Macromolecules 10:25-11:20
Biochem lab 1:40-5:40

T
United States Since 1933 11:15-12:35
Colloquium 5:00-6:00

R
United States Since 1933 11:15-12:35

F
Biochem lecture 10:25-11:20

I was so close to not having any classes on Friday. :( But I guess I can deal with just one. I'm also enrolling in my honors thesis class but I get to set the times for it so it shouldn't be too bad. I think it's 16 hours total. There's also a forensic science class I want to take, and it's a 1000 level class, but I'm afraid that taking 19 hours next semester might be a little much. So I'll really have to think about that one.

And I got my MCAT test ticket thing today. I'll be taking it here at ETSU on April 16. I actually didn't do as badly on the practice test as I thought I would, but I've still got to make time to study at some point. It's not looking like it's going to happen this week, though. I'm supposed to be working on my evolution paper right now and then I have to finish reading some articles so I can meet with my thesis professor either tomorrow or Thursday. I also have a World History test on Thursday that really shouldn't be that bad but I'll have to look over everything since me professor doesn't actually teach. I guess all that really wouldn't be so bad except that I am dying to work on this retreat for my church. I've just got so many ideas and so many things that I want to say that I need to get them down on paper but I know if I don't finish some other stuff first I'm really going to stress myself out. And I am trying to be anti-stress for the second half of this semester. We'll see how that goes.

I'm putting off doing some homework so I thought I'd take Justine's idea and make a quiz for you guys.

Pop Quiz! Take my Quiz! and then Check out the Scoreboard!

I don't think it's too hard. I tried to include general info so maybe ya'll won't do as bad as I did on Justine's. *lol*

So I'm finally back from Spring Break and even though I didn't do anything major it was nice just to be home and relax. Of course, it started off well when I went with my church to the Ridgecrest conference in North Carolina last weekend. It was just incredible. It was meant for junior high and high school but I think I got just as much out of it as they did. But I think what touched my heart the most was seeing the change in those kids, including my sister, after that weekend. They're on fire for God and it's just awesome. They're sharing their faith and getting excited about worship and that does me good to see that. I love to see other people excited about God.

I really feel like I've grown in my relationship with Him in the last few months. I can honestly say I've never been this happy and content and I know it's all His doing. And it's really been amazing to see how he's working in my life right now. I'm writing my church's retreat, which is on worship, and He's really spoken to me about that and the changes I have to make in my own life as far as that is concerned. And then at the service I go to on Wednesday nights we've been talking about Godly singleness and not looking for the right person but becoming the right person. I've really really been working hard on that and I feel like He's blessing me for it. I've felt for a while now that He's been preparing me for something truly great but I'm not sure what it is.

But probably the coolest thing that has happened to me lately is meeting Justin. My pastor has been battling cancer for years now and he really doens't have long left to live. As it is now he can't preach anymore so he's been getting guest preachers to come and speak on Sundays. Well, everyone in my church had been raving about this Justin guy who had been there to preach while I was a school one weekend. So I finally got to hear him a couple weeks ago and it was just incredible. I haven't heard anyone preach so impassioned in such a long time. You can just see God working through him while he preaches and I always get something out of it each time I hear him. It's sort of come about that he might be our assistant pastor some time in the near future. But what makes this a little more interesting is that he's 23 years old, single, and one of the most beautiful people (inside and out) that I've ever met. Of course, everyone at my church wants to hook us up, which I'm not opposed to at all.

I don't think I've ever looked at a guy and said, this is exactly the kind of person I want to marry. There's always something about the guys I'm with that I want to change. But not Justin. I mean, I don't know him extremely well yet, but on the surface he's just incredible. He loves God and he'd dedicated to serving Him, but he's also really sweet and personable. It was just this awesome feeling after I talked to him that first time. He seems sort of intimidating when he's in the pulpit but when you talk to him, he seems normal for his age.

And so I started thinking (a dangerous thing, I know) that maybe this is God showing me the possibilities of the reward of becoming the right person. Maybe the great thing he's preparing me for is to be a pastor's wife. Maybe it's none of those things, but Justin has just made such a huge impact on my life in such a short time. He's inspiring and for just the little bit I've known him, he makes me want to be a better person. And at the very least, I just really want to get to know him a little better. It's not often that incredible people like this walk into my life. And no matter what happens (and I have to say I'm excited to see where this might go) I'm thankful for God putting Justin in my life even in the smallest way. I'm just in awe of the way He moves.

My aunt sent me this email and I thought it was just adorable and so true so I thought you guys might enjoy it as well.

Subject: What is love?

Slow down for three minutes to read this. It is so
worth it. Touching words from the mouth of babes.

What does Love mean?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

> > "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca- age 8

> > When someone loves you, the way they say your name
is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

> > "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other." Karl - age 5

> > "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy -age 6

> > "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4

> > "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7

> > "Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss" Emily - age 8

> > "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

> > "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate," Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's
on this planet)

> > "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday." Noelle - age 7

> > "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well." Tommy - age 6

> > "During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore." Cindy - age 8

> > "My mommy loves me more than anybody . You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare - age 6

> > "Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." Elaine-age 5

> > "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris - age 7

> > "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." Mary Ann - age 4

> > "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." Lauren - age 4

> > "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an imagination)
Karen - age 7

> > "Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross." Mark - age 6

> > "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"

When there is nothing left but God, that is when
you find out that
God is all you need. Take 60 seconds and give this a
shot! All you do is simply say the following small prayer for the
person who sent you this.

Father, God bless all my friends in whatever it is
that You know
they may be needing this day! And may their life be
full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a
closer relationship with you. Amen.

Then send it on to five other people, including
the one who sent it
to you. Within hours you caused a multitude of people
to pray for
other people. Then sit back and watch the power of God
work in your life.

P. S. Five is good, but more is better.

I got an email from Phyllis saying that The Sweetest Thing just won best established site at the Inspiration Awards. I've been trying to go check out the list of winners but I keep getting a message that the site is down and will be back up within the hour. At any rate, I'm excited to see the list. :)

This week has been strangely busy even though I really can't think of anything I've done. I'm trying to start getting ahead on a few things so I won't have a lot of work to do on spring break, which is the week after next. I'm really excited about the break. I'm leaving next Friday to go on a retreat with my church and when I get back I'll get to chill out the next week. It should be fun and relaxing.

I'm taking a practice MCAT on Saturday so I guess I really should get back to studying now. I'm having to reteach myself physics. *rolls eyes*