Addendum & Blackberries

As an addendum to the last post I'd like to throw this in for Marie. They're no you either. I'd actually take either the TH or you over them for miles and miles. Even though I like them. Most days.

Okay seriously, I had this thought today that "they are NEVER going to leave."

Now, I was telling Cassie today. I'm sure I had these thoughts Junior year....that I was psycho, crazy and what was i thinking because these 9 people where NEVER going anywhere...but the thing is. I don't remember having those thoughts. I just know myself, so I know they probably existed.

Some new thoughts.

I heard A talking to her fam in Polish, and I taught her how to use a can opener (yes, you read that right). I'm liking E a lot...and L doesn't close cabinet doors, like EVER.

Okay...this post was suppose to be about blackberries. I've gotten off topic.

Cassie and I went to pick blueberries on Wednesday, but no one had blueberries. So she found us this little farm in Cross Plains, TN and we picked blackberries. They are so flippin' big it's ridiculous.

I've made blackberry muffins and a blackberry & peach cobbler (the peach came from the farm too). I have pictures, but no way to upload them. I'll try to find a way to do that this weekend, and I'll post the pictures and the recipe.

After we picked, we went to this 1930's style drug store and soda fountain for lunch. Sorta like Toomer's but smaller and way better because lemonade was a dollar something instead of $4.00. We both had pimento cheese sandwiches, which were great...no cottage cafe, but great. Then we had milkshakes. I had peach, she had cookies and cream.

Wednesday was a good day.

Pictures to come.

Tomorrow is my first day @ school. WooHoo/Nervous. It's definitely getting nervous in here. I'll make it though. No hott coach tomorrow, but I'll keep you all posted when he finally does make an appearance.

The Roomies...

L:

L is from outside of Boston. She talks a lot (I know, I know...I do to. She probably doesn't talk as much as me, I'm just not used to being around someone who compares). We'll get a long pretty well I think. She likes to bake (ME TOO!) She went to boarding school for High School. Most of you probably don't know this about me, but my dream in High School would have been to go to boarding school. Really Elementary and Middle school too. After I watched The Little Princess I was convinced I needed to go to boarding school. It was all very romantic. A year long slumber party with fancy dresses, servants and fireplaces in the room. All set in the European country side. Who could ask for more. :) She is pretty athletic, and played soccer @ Rhodes. I think we'll get along.

E:

E is from Kentucky and went to school @ the University of Kentucky. She is super close to her family and went home every weekend during institute, which is no small feet. She says "cute" and "precious" about everything. These are her adjectives of choice. That will probably get on my nerves, but otherwise I think we'll get along fine. She is very mothering and is more of a rule follower than Cassie. Thankfully I've had Cass in my life the past 5 years to help me ease into E. E is very mothering and super cautious. If we have to be somewhere that takes 15 minutes to get to, she leaves 45 minutes before we need to be there. Needless to say she and I probably won't carpool much. She's teaching 6th grade reading, but would probably be better suited for Kindergarten. Either way, she is adorable, and another good roommate.

A:

A is from Denver, Colorado, and went to the University of Colorado @ Boulder. She was last years Ms. Poland International. She is a dual American and Polish citizen. Her parents are Polish immigrants. She loves Jesus and it is evident in the way she lives her life. She's dating (and probably about to marry a guy) 9 years her senior, but from what I know about her this will be a good move. I think she and I will get along best. We seem much more alike in personality (which is hard for me to admit since she is the one I thought was most standoffish initially. She absolutely does not know how to cook, so hopefully we can teach her some of those skills before she gets married next summer. I'm looking forward to doing some church shopping with her, and getting to know her this next year. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, if you've been to my house you've seen, and if not you need to hurry and come....but she loves monkeys. She and L share a monkey bathroom, she has monkey plates, bowls and cups. Monkey place mats and a monkey welcome mat.

That's the roomie summary. Don't worry, they can't replace the TH girls. I'd trade them for all of you any day, but I think they'll be good substitutes until you all decide to move to Nashville.

The Roomies...

Boring...

I'm settling into boring. Here comes round zero. It's actually not boring...just the excessive amounts of meetings and workshops I've already been subjected to this summer make any meeting or workshop seem tedious.

The house is coming along nicely...I'll be posting pictures as soon as I find a way to upload them (I don't have a cord).

I met a couple of teachers from my school...I'll post about them soon too...

Come back in a few days, and posting will resume.

Peace out.

Life these days.

Oops...

I forgot the blog existed this week. Apologies to my 4 faithful readers and anyone else who happened along.

I'll be back...but probably not regularly until the end of the month.

Guess what???

.........

No really, guess............................................................

Okay, I'll just tell you.

INSTITUTE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whew...I'm so glad.

I'll post a final recap eventually, but for now...an update of sorts.

Currently I'm @ SIFAT...I won't bore you with tales of how this is my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE PLACE TO BE. I went to Worship on the Water @ Lake Wedowee yesterday to hear Nate speak and Addie and Laura sing. I lounged around yesterday afternoon. Watched some TV...Which I haven't done in FOREVER. Went to worship (I love worship...I miss corporate worship), got up and helped w/ breakfast. Went to town. Helped with lunch. And just got back from a run...I ran into 3 cows...They were just chillin' in the old village. That's why I love this place. You go for a run and meet up with 2 cows and a baby calf. It seriously looked like I was interrupting their conversation. I like to think that they left and started talking about me.

I'll be here till Friday, then I'm off to Nashvegas to move into my new house!!!

Cassie's shower is on Saturday. More Moving Sunday. Getting settled Monday and Tuesday. Round Zero on Thursday!

I'll update sporadically until then, but regular posting will resume begin @ the beginning of August.

Peace.

I love Jesus...

So, I was going to start this with a picture...but shutterfly is blocked @ school. Maybe I'll throw an old picture in at the end of this post.

I think when God does good things we should tell each other.

1st off, this weekend was crazy. Most of it was good...but maybe not when my sister punched my step mom in the face. We're still hoping she grows up one day, and hopefully it will happen before she wigs out and does something really stupid.

So...back to the good part.

Emily is crazy most of the time, so when we all went to lunch as a family, it was no surprise that she and my mom got into a fight (that doesn't sound like a good part, it's coming...i promise). At the end of the day, I ended up taking her to the gas station...to pick up her check...to the grocery store, and then home.

@ the grocery store, I just really felt like I should give her money. I NEVER GIVE HER MONEY.

1.) because I don't have the money &
2.) because I feel like she needs to take responsibility for her world.

So, I struggled with myself for a few minutes, and at the end of the day I just felt like I should give her $40. Actually, I spent $10 on her, then gave her $30.

Okay...that was Sunday afternoon...Go back with me to Sunday morning, or even 2 weeks ago. Mrs. T.J. told me she had a care package for me. Then Sunday morning, she told me to wait for her in the parking lot so she could give it to me. Well, I was running late to lunch, and I ended up texting her and telling her I'd swing by her house later.

Money is TIGHT right now. It just is until I start getting paid. So, after I gave Emily the money, I was kicking myself, wondering what in the world I was doing giving away money I didn't have.

I headed to the Griswold's. T.J. met me coming through the door with money in her hand. I started to refuse it, and she stopped me and said "listen to me. this is $40, and God has blessed us so we just want to turn around and bless you."

I started crying like a baby.

It was exactly what I'd spent on Emily. The money I didn't have, and I was legitimately worried about giving it away....and here I was getting it back.

The effect would have been totally different if she'd mailed it to me, or given it to me at church.

God's in the little things, even the timing.

Frustration...

Okay,

so...if you are homosexual or bi-sexual and are easily offended you might want to stop reading. I don't mean to offend, and I hope you could read it all and not be offended...just know that I am not writing this with the intention of offending, and if you are offended, I'd love to talk about it.

I'm finding that there is a double standard in the world. I am hearing all of this stuff about "tolerance" and "not offending" and the list goes on. Here's the deal. I'm not allowed to say how I really feel about homosexuality and bisexuality, because I would be "judging"...when really I'm not judging. PLEASE HERE ME SAY I AM NOT JUDGING. My conviction that a man was made to be with a woman does not have to mean that I am passing judgement on those who live differently. I do not presume to know how it feels...I do not presume to tell other people how they should or should not act (unless they belong to my particular religion, and then i feel as though i have a responsibility to call them out in love).

But can't I be allowed to disagree????? Can't I be allowed to say "I don't think that it is right?"

I am perfectly capable of saying that and still loving the person, and loving the person deeply. WHY DON'T PEOPLE GET THAT????????

I am finding that if i say "I don't agree with that lifestyle," or "I wouldn't want my 8 year old child exposed to that lifestyle," that I am suddenly this psycho, bible beating, christian. I'm okay with being that person, but I want people to understand that the love exists. I can be friends with you and not agree with your lifestyle.

BUT, Please let me believe that it is wrong...you are passing equal judgement when you assume I am judging with out getting to know me.

Get to know me. Let's talk about it. Let me disagree without you passing judgement on me.

*Diversity has obviously been the topic of conversation @ institute lately.

Around Atlanta

So, there hasn't been much free time. But we've managed to get out once or twice. Last weekend was great. I really wanted to go home, but staying turned out to be the right decision. I've struggled with how to deal with people who are different than me during institute. Mostly, I have a hard time being around people who don't subscribe to the same moral values as me. Meaning, the rest of the world apparently. It's hard when almost everyone else thinks it's okay to get drunk all the time.

It's also been difficult, just because everyone is so open about the things they do. I've heard all about some people's sex lives, and there pasts, and just any myriad of things that I thought normal people didn't talk about. I'm not sexually active. I have a very strong conviction that God created that for marriage, and that in that covenant, it will be BEAUTIFUL! I'm not judging, but it's been a struggle for me to not judge. All that to say, it was good I stayed. I needed to be around these people. And force myself to love and not judge...


First stop...Sweet Water brewery. A huge group of NCC (Nashville Charter Corps) went, but these are the girls who rode with me. From the left - S, N, C, Me, P.
We had a great time. Also, it's a great deal. $8 gets you a tour of the brewery, a souvenir glass, and 6 glasses of beer (*be advised I had like 1 and a half...maybe). There was live music outside, and it was just a fun way to spend Friday night.

Some notes about the girls we were hanging out with. N, she's definitely one of my favorites so far. She is my age, and played volleyball at Dayton in Ohio. We get along really really well. She has a good head on her shoulders. I'm looking forward to getting to know her better the next 2 years.

C is one of my institute roommates. She's crazy, but a whole lot of fun. She's from New York, but was born in Opelika. She short and spunky, and apparently people confuse her as me sometimes, saying we both have attitudes. I can live with that.

Then there's P. She's is HILARIOUS! She can talk to a brick wall. Example, at Sweet Water, she met 2 German guys and 2 Turkish girls. At the braves game on Thursday night, she was BFF with the usher lady. Seriously, she's fun.

After all the group fun on Friday, I needed some alone time, so Sunday I went here...

The Martin Luther King Jr. historical site. This is where he and Coretta are buried, and it is right down the street from his birth home and the church he went to as a child, and then pastored at later in life. There is a really good informative museum there, so I spent some time looking around. There was an art exhibit set up in honor of him, so that was cool to see also. After touring the museum, I went here...

His birth home. There was something historic about walking around the neighborhood he grew up in, knowing he walked these streets years ago, and something about them transformed him into the activist we all know him for. I like to think about world leaders as small children. Someone knew them before everyone did. I want to know those people. It also got me thinking...If not him then who? One of the exhibits in the museum had a quote from him about a time when he thought about quitting the civil rights movement. He was just looking for a non-cowardly way to back down. WHAT IF...What if he'd backed down? Where would we be. If not him, then who? If not me then who? I ended with a tour of the grounds. I found these little plaques lining a rose garden. They all had poems written by elementary school kids. This was my favorite.

"Love is when you like something so much...Silence is when you fell good and listen to the ocean...Conscience is when you listen to your mind and do good."

If only we all had Love, Silence and Conscience!