My First Election

Upon turning on the television, and seeing the words "OBAMA is the new President-Elect" flash across the screen, I have never before felt so afraid for our country. My very first election and all I can think of is dissappointment in my generation. There are no words to describe it...I will respect our new President for the position as God commands us to in His word. "Submit to the governing authorities". But I am deeply convicted that life begins at the moment conception and I pray that God will have mercy on our country that the crime of abortion will not be allowed even with a President that supports this form of murder. This one fact alone is enough to make me so sad...but I know that God is in control and has a reason for everything. To the leaders of our country, past and present, I have a message: My generation may have been so excited out of immaturity to feel like their vote was important (it was whether somone said so or not) but not all of us were decieved. I voted for who I believe was the best choice we had available, not for who made me feel good with compliments instead of morals. I am glad I serve God who is in control of everything because even in this time of confusion I know He will never let me down.

Wordless Wednesday - Only Grandpa

"My Grandpa"

She wouldn't hug anyone but him.

For more WW click here.

Frugal Friday: Mayonnaise?

I can't believe how many times I buy something like a picture frame, a glass, or any type of hard or slick surface and can't get the sticker gump off. You hear lots of ideas of how to get that off but ultimately you end up buying another one to replace it or you just wasted money on the one that you are too embarrassed to set out for people to use or even see.

Well I think I have found the solution. Mayonnaise. Make sure the surface you put it on is something that can be wiped off with a wet rag without being ruined.

Pull off whatever excess you can of the sticker or price tag. Take a small amount of mayonnaise and spread it over the area. Let it sit for a few minutes and then take a warm wet rag and wipe it off. Most of the sticker should come off on the first time. You may have to wipe it a few more times with the rag before all of the residue is completely gone.

I don't know about you but I would much rather use something that is already in my cabinet than to spend money on all of those oily and smelly liquids you can get for several dollars. That could be 5 bucks that you really couldn't spare.

For more Frugal Friday tips click here.

Great Movies

I have just recently watched 2 really good movies that I got from the library. I have this thing for Scottish accents. lol So any movie that has people from Scottland in it is pretty appealing to me. The movie was called "Dear Frankie". Its difficult to decide what genre it is....Romance, Drama, Inspirational...Its just a really good movie and a clean one too.. Its hard to find good clean movies anymore that the acting is actually good too. :) The other movie I watched was called "The ultimate gift". Starring one of the actors from the Sunday night series "Army Wives". This was also a Romantic, Inspirational movie. If you've got time, I would definitely recommend kicking back and watching both of these great movies :)

Wordless Wednesday - Cozy Bed

What is the world coming to? ;)

Head over to 5 Minutes For Moms for more WW!

Best Make-up EVER!

No matter who you are, I'm sure you've been through the make-up search. Trying to find one that doesn't make your skin too oily or too dry. I've been through a lot of them. The liquid kind, the mousse kind, just going straight to compact powder...not too mention trying each in all the different brands in hope that maybe, just maybe, one would be better than the last.

Last year, my sister bought me the starter kit for Bare Minerals. I was excited to try it but not convinced at all that it would be any different. After the first week my face was so much clearer than before. It felt so smooth and clean as if I didn't have any make-up on at all. Plus, its so nice to go in to the store and by it because there aren't a hundred shades that you could possibly be. Instead there are only 3 I believe and they help you right there in the store to match it perfectly to your skin. Its definitely worth the money. A year later, I am still using exactly what was in my starter kit with the exception of the foundation. It lasts FOREVER! Oh, and you don't have to worry about a major break out in the morning in case you didn't have time to wash off the make-up before bed. Its all natural and actually good for your pores and face. Even though its a powder it doesn't even come close to making dry skin a problem. I don't know all the stores that it is available at but ULTA carries it for sure. :)

For more tips click here.

Seeing from a Different View

Four years ago I began to raise money with five other people to go on a missions trip to the Philippines. As my parents were missionaries there for twelve years before I was born, we had a lot of extra opportunities. I met people that I had heard about since my childhood. I saw places that I had imagined over and over as my Dad told me stories. What I found there was people that I didn't want to ever leave. When I witnessed personally the selflessness they demonstrated I saw just how much the people back at home were missing. As a Christian, the other Christians opened their arms to me as if we had known each other our whole lives. I saw a way of life that I had read and heard about but could never have understood until seeing it with my own eyes. It was an experience that I can only describe the physical details as I remember them, but the actual experience can never be expressed until you've done it yourself.

I'll be writing about my trip often. There is no way I can sum it up in one post :)

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Why Do They Like ME!!!

When God first created the world, before Eve sinned and brought pain for all of us, I'm wondering what the purpose of mosquitos was? What did they eat back then? I sure know what they eat now. ME! There are lots of theories going around about what attracks these pesky overgrown vampire nats. Some say that dark clothing is the worst thing you can wear in the evening, others say that there are just some kinds of body chemistry that they swarm to. Apparently I am a perfect candidate for this theory. As long as I can remember, I have been prone to not just one or two bites but as many as fifty within just a few minutes.

I went on a mission trip to the Philippines three years ago and came back with 58 bites. Yes I did count them...I had to make it somewhat interesting because the constant itch consumed my every thought during the day and kept me awake at night. Now, here I am, covered yet again in bites. 19 of which are on my feet! I have found that bug spray makes it even worse for me. So what can I do? I now have not only the fear of itching and scarring but now I have the fear of West Nile? Well...while I attempt to patiently wait for scientists to come up with the cure for this disease, I will concentrate on the itching and scarring. I could spend hundreds of dollars trying every ointment out there or I could go with my most recent find...chapstick.

Chapstick costs any where from $0.99 to 2 or 3 dollars, and lasts for quite a while. It is a temporary relief but it does last longer than anything else I have tried. (Rubbing alcohol works but dries very fast and does not relieve near as long.)

If you have difficulty fighting off the mosquitos and their awful poison than at least relieve the itching and save some money.

For more tips click here.

Pray for Our Country

How many people do you know or have seen that sport a "Pray for Our Troops" magnet on their car? Or how about "God Bless America"? How many of those people that proudly bought that magnet and placed it on the back window, would you suppose actually do it? Sadly, I would venture to guess that very few pray genuinely for the safety of our troops, or the safety for our country. I would also guess that even less, ever consider praying for the President that is always caught in the middle of decisions that effect every one of our lives and are getting smacked in the face with new scandals trashing their name. Do you ever think about the dangers our soldiers go through not just on the battlefield but in their own circles? We live in an immoral world full of people trying to make excuses for their own actions by pulling others with them. I know that our soldiers are under that very same peer pressure ever second they are away. Do you ever pray for them? I believe our country is in danger. Not just the danger of terrorists or nuclear warfare...but the danger of the consequences of turning our back on God. If I could challenge my fellow Christian Americans I would say this, don't buy the bumper stickers and magnets if you aren't going to truly take that time out of every day and pray for those you claim to love and support. Those who are not believers in the one true God, why would you pray to the God you don't serve or believe in? Do not give reason to be called a hypocritical American or even worse a hypocritical Christian. These stickers are meant to be a reminder...a call to action. Wouldn't it be great to know that every car sporting these requests and proclamations about our country, was really praying and really cared? Pray for our country.

Study Tips

I was not exactly the best at studying in high school. I spent most of my life homeschooling, one year at a Christian school in second grade, 2 years in a public school in junior high and high school, and my very last year at a small Christian school. Still somehow I was never able to study as well as I needed to. Now, I've been pulling tips in from a lot of different people. There really is a great deal that depends on the kind of learner that a person is. For me, I'm mostly auditory, with a little of visual. It really helps me to be writing while I'm listening to someone. That works great for me during a class lecture but how can I incorrporate that into my homework? I was talking to someone after class the other day and she shared with me what her technique is.

- Get a recorder and record your study guide (An audacity program on your computer works great)
- Make one recording of the questions and the answers and listen to it when you are driving or just sitting around working on other projects.
- Make another copy with the questions only, and leave time for you to answer them between each question.
- Answer your questions verbally and sometimes write them out like you would on a test.

I've already tried this, and it actually was very effective for me. I was able to memorize a lot more imformation than I normally can.

For more tips click here.

Trying to be Healthy

I'm finding out lately that age has hardly anything to do with whether or not you are healthy. Working out everyday has proven to be a struggle for me. But not necessarily because I don't have time...I do. Its more of a mental struggle. The reality of simply not feeling like it. The funny thing is though, that after I do it...I really do feel like doing it again. As someone who is spending a lot of time in the books and at my computer I have to make a consious effort every morning to remind myself to make time for excersise. The way you feel is a great way to estimate how healthy you are. Your work out doesn't have to be 2 hours long our cause you pain. I'm learning to simplify it by just being active.

What is it?

Here it is! The most important aspect of my life; my faith. I believe in the One True God of the Bible. This is why I'm going to Bible college. I want to learn everything I can about God's character. I don't want to be ignorant. I want to be able to defend His name, not because He needs me to (In man's infalible and finite mind how can we attempt to explain or defend the God who created us and the universe? He does not need us to love Him, but He desires it) but because I want to Honor Him.

Classes, Work, Life, Love...

I'd like to think I'm not the only one who is learning how to balance these things. Not necessarily in that order. I'm finding that with every day comes a new challenge...the most recent is work. College schedules don't exactly make managing a full time job possible...at least in my case...so seeing as how my job at the resort was exactly that, I'm back on the hunt again. I've been told that the job that I want is usually what every graduate is searching for...an office job. I'm a people person, and I love to help someone work out problems, whether they are emotional, physical...or any other "al" there could be. My ideal work environment consists of people, computers, soft music, a coffee machine, and a to-do list. As is common knowledge, our economy isn't exactly catering to the "job of your choice" idea right now. This is probably being balanced carefully on one "hand" (since I can still stand on two feet when out of work...hard as it may be)

Classes...not much to say about college except...maybe one word that could describe it all: books. Lots and lots of reading. You hand me a good fiction thriller and I'll have it read in a few hours or will simply not be tempted by the most alluring distractions until I have finished. Hand me a book on systematic theology and my mind is a little more likely to wander...at the very least. Still, taking advantage of this lull in my work life, I read...a lot.

Love, this could include many things. Social life maybe??? Not so much...even though I love my friends. Family? A lot more than social life. While I have my parents around and a few siblings...being the youngest of eight, and now the only one left at home...I find that the lack of all my brothers and sisters being close by causes a sense of loneliness that I will only have to get used to. What is it then? Jayson. My boyfriend, my best friend, my phone bill, my dreams, my inspiration, my motivation...you could call him a lot of things. :) You could even call him "a thousand miles". God brought him into my life about 3 years ago. We've grown individually, and together in many ways but a little unconventionally. We met at a church meeting when my parents and I were traveling. With the exception of maybe 2 or 3 visits a year, we built our relationship over the phone and email. I wouldn't change this for the world. I got an advantage over most girls...he never got to impress me with actions or the people he knew. He impressed me with sincerity, poetry, spirituality, and reality.

I've told you about three major parts of my life as I see them right now. However, I've left out the one that is most important to me. I did it because it shouldn't be placed in the same category as the rest. It gets one all its own...

College

Well life has been spinning for me the last week. In short, I changed colleges dramatically twice this week and am now enrolled full time into a Bible College. I am taking classes that I chose as I am not degree seeking. I am really anxious to see what God is going to be doing in my life this year.

racoons!

When I was in one of the resorts guest houses, one of my co-workers says "OH MY GOODNESS!" and when I looked out the window we saw a family of raccoons wrestling around in the grass around the pool chairs. I pulled out my phone and tried to take them quickly so they are a little blurry but you can get the idea anyways :)

My Job

So after graduation I started right away on my search for a job. I really wanted an office job because I love working with computers and I enjoy customer service. Apparently though...none of the ads in the paper or online were really interested in hiring an entry level office assistant like they said. So, I moved on to my next choices. I've always been interested in the medical field and having done some volunteer work for HOSPICE, I thought I could get a job as a caregiver or companion. No places near me were hiring and due to the recent gas prices, I couldn't afford to travel very far every day. Then I stumbled upon an add for a Resort that was hiring. So I thought, "Why not?" (knowing that I couldn't be too picky) and sent in my resume. Within 24 hours I was called in for an interview. Because of my faith I had one condition about my work schedule; I could work anytime but Sunday and Wednesday night since I went to church. This eliminated the first position I applied for but I ended up getting hired for the night crew doing laundry, turn-down service, miscellaneous cleaning, etc... This wasn't my first choice at all. Going from hoping to be in an office to being the one that cleans it. But I was so happy to get job and eager to start. Now I'm going on my second month of working there. If anyone tells you that housekeeping at a resort is easy, they were lying. It is hard hard work and I spend a lot of my off time sleeping and when I'm not at church or sleeping, I'm yawning. We have reached the rainy season here, and since we go from room to room in golf carts I spent all last night soaked completely through by the rain. Still, I work with a great group of people even if they speak Spanish and broken English and I only speak English. Haha, it makes for some very interesting conversations full of hand motions and lots of laughing. I've seen a few things I would rather not have seen and been in a golf cart that crashed and been covered in cactus. ( you know the tiny kind that you can't see and they get stuck between your fingers and you find them for weeks and weeks after). But all in all, I have a good dependable job...and thats more than I could as for as I get ready for college.

Right Now

Its been two months since I had to stand up in front of my school and give "words of wisdom" to my class that were in the same boat as I. To tell you the truth, I was actually more nervous that I would trip going up to get my diploma than I was about my speech. I could not have been more relieved when it was all over...but then...something hit me, the idea that I was now at the end of my life as I had always known it. No more high school, no more being a teenager depending on other people...for the most part...its all up to me now. I have a lot of things that are going to be coming at me. Decisions I am not aware that I will have to make. Maybe my life, as it is...mistakes, successes, difficult circumstances, CHANGES...can be a help to someone else.