Life in Kentucky: Part 1

Greetings from Kentucky!!! Today is my 4th day here. My room is starting to actually look like a room now. I have to wait to hang posters and such until after the room gets painted on Sunday. I have my radio tuned in, my tv working, and my Twilight calendar hung. So it's a start. So far all I have seen of Kentucky is the church, the local Wal Mart, and my Mom and Al's new house. I have been sick the entire time I have been here, so my going out has been limited. Plus, I have absolutely no idea where anything is, except the local Wal Mart. So I decided to just let this cold pass, and then try to venture out a bit. Tomorrow I am going to school with my Mom and helping out with all the little elementary kids. It should be interesting, espically since there are some 4th grade boys espically excited to meet me. But all in all, I think it will be fun. It will be good to get out of the house too. I've been pretty cooped up all week so far. Oh... and on Saturday, we are going to Newport on the Levy to get Coldstone. So I'll take a pic of the infamous shark on the side of the aquarium, so y'al lcan see why it scares the hell out of me. Becides that, not much is going on yet. Hopefully once the cold is gone, and my sense of direction gets better, I can start putting in some applications around town. Keep your fingers crossed that the local Hot Topic is hiring. I'd love to be able to report that I am working there and coloring my hair purple.... but all in due time I guess. As for now, I am going to finish getting around for the day, and see what I can do to get my room in some sort of order. I'll make sure to keep y'all updated on life here in Kentucky, and let y'all know when I get a job and such. Until next time, keep rockin out.

Sometimes you need to use that voice.

So, this week at Grand Valley State, a student was shot by a cop. Obviously, they are investigating it. But as of right now, there is no aparent reason for this shooting. The student was unarmed, and the parents were not informed of the shooting until their son (who had been shot) called them from his hospital bed. It all sounds kinda fishy to a lot of people. So today on the GVSU campus, friends and fellow students of the student who was shot held protests. They were peaceable protests, mostly just students holding signs and chanting. Nothing violent. We were watching coverage of the protests on the news while my Dad, Grandma, Grandpa and I were eating dinner. I about choked on my dinner when my Grandpa made a comment about how protest do no good, and the students were wasting their time. I had a hard time biting my tounge. It's not that I knew the student shot or anything, it's the principal behind the situation. I was proud of the students for demaing that there be honest answers to this shooting. They could just sit back and do nothing, and swallow whatever the police told them was the truth. Instead, they showed the police (in a non violent way) that they wanted real answers, not politically correct answers. It made me realize that this is a problem with a lot of people in our society. They feel that they have no right to speak out when there is an injustice, or they have a strong opinion. We have been tought to just keep our opintions to ourselfs, and deal with it. But there is a time and a place for remaining silent. But there is also a time to speak out and stand your ground. We were given voices to use them. I would understand a comment such as the one my Grandpa made if the protest would've been violent. If there would've been a riot, and people hurt....etc, I would agree it wasa meaningless protest. But when a body of people stand up for what they believe in, in a peaceful mannor, it can be very effective. The message sent by the students today was loud and clear, and done so peacefully. It got me to thinking about a similiar protest that took place in January against abortion. Nobody got violent, nobody created a hostile invironment. But the protest showed the nation that despite President Obama's views on abortion, there are thousands of us willing to stand up for the unborn. It sent a very strong and powerful message. So saying that protesting is meaningless, is wrong. Don't let anyone tell you that your voice is not worth being heard. Learn when to hold your tounge, as your tounge can be used for evil. But when the time is right, don't be afraid to stand up for what is right. God gave us all individual voices for a reason. We were meant to be heard, not just seen. Imagine if Jesus had never stood up for what was right. Imagine what would've happened if he hadn't spoken up. This world would be an even scarier place than it is now, overrun with sin and disaster. Jesus knew when to speak up, and when to lead by example. Read his word, learn when to speak up. So when he calls you to speak up for him, you're not afraid to do so

Who Is Your Savior?

Ok y'all... I have to rant a bit here because this is too much for me to just pass by and not comment on. I was watching the news the other day, and they were talking about a national survey that had been conducted. When americans were asked to name their heroes, they placed Barack Obama OVER Jesus Christ. WHAT THE HECK!!! This is exactly what is wrong with this nation. It is is not 100% the crap economy, and it is not Bush's fault. It is the fact that in this time of need, people are looking for a savior. And instead of looking to the ONLY savior, they are putting their faith in Barack Obama. Newsflash people, HE IS A SINNER. He is only human, just like you and I. Yes, he holds a position of importance in the political system, but this does NOT make him a God of some sort. He is NOT the savior this nation needs. We are all hurting, and all struggling. But looking to people like Barack Obama and Dave Ramsey to "save" us, is crap. It is only going to make us fall that much harder. These men are just that, men. The only savior that can actually save any of us, is Jesus Christ. He, and he ALONE can save this nation right now. Not Obama, not Dave Ramsey. People being sucked in to putting all of their faith in ordinary men, is only going to make our problems worse. The sooner that we realize who our one true savior is, the sooner we will actually see change in this nation. Obama can't bring the change that Jesus can bring. It is not possible, and it will never happen. No matter how cool everyone thinks Obama is. This is exactly why I am not a fan of politics. Politics only make us believe that everyday people are the ones who have the power, and are the ones who will save us. And it's NEVER going to be true. The only way they will positivly change this nation, is by listening to God, and doing his work. Not by doing what they think is best, but by doing what God thinks is best. Because in the end, only God knows what really is best. So stop and think about who you are putting your faith in. Remember that even people in a position of "power" are still people. They are just like you and I. And putting your faith in them over Jesus, can only lead you to dissapointment.

Sometimes It Just Hurts

We've all had people in our lives that have taken our breath away. People who changed the way that we look at ourselves, people who turn our entire world upside down. And sometimes, these people stay in our lives. Then there are the other times. The times when something happens, and wether you like it or not, they are gone. And you go through everyday fooling yourself into believing that you can move on without them. You try to convince yourself that you can manage a resemblence of a normal life without that person. You down play the things that you shared with that person, you try to make them seem somehow less important to you. All in a pathetic attempt to fool yourself so you won't notice the gaping hole in your heart. Then one day, you hear that song, or you see that movie, or you drive by that place... and BAM. It hits you. The memories, the feelings, the moments. And all you can do is surrender to the flooding back in of all of the emotions that you have been working so hard to push out. You start to dream about that person, you start to wish you could talk to them again. Then the final nail in the coffin happens. You finally give in (admit it, we all do) and you look them up on MySpace or Facebook, and they are perfectly happy. They are moving on, without you.... and they are ok with it. They are smiling, they are going on about how great their birthday weekends are going to be....all without you. And then you are left sitting there, wondering if maybe you just read too much into the entire situation in the first place. Maybe they meant more to you, then you did to them. Maybe they hurt for a few days, but they moved on. Maybe they don't have the hole in their heart that you do in yours. Maybe it was all just a lie. But you don't know. And maybe you never will. All you can do is sit around, listening to the songs and watching the movies, wondering. And you'll lose sleep at night, because you are dreaming about them instead of sleeping. And you'll pray that maybe one day, that hole won't exist. And maybe you'll be happy to. Maybe you'll move on. Then again, maybe some of us are just always going to wonder.... and always going to hurt. And there is no amount of advice that can make it better, it all just temporarily numbs the pain. But it never really goes away. I'm watching the movie "A Walk To Remember". And it has got me thinking about another point. Maybe some of us, are just afraid to love who we are supposed to love. Maybe we can't all be like Shane West's charactor and have the courage to stand up for what our hearts are saying. Maybe some of us are just too damn scared. Then again maybe I am just having an emotional girl moment. And maybe all of this is me just being a paranoid psycho freak. Maybe all of this doesn't mean a damn thing in the end.

A Few Fries Short Of A Happy Meal

So.... I am sure that by now y'all have heard about hte pic of Michael Phelps smoking pot. All I have to say is GET OVER IT!! Seriously people, he is NOT a god, he is a HUMAN BEING. He made a mistake, like we all have done at one point or another, and he apologized for it. What more do you want!!!! Seriously, it makes me sick. I still love him, think he's an amazing athlete, and he's a normal human. Like hte rest of us. It's kinda like the story in the bible where the prostituate get s brought in fromt of Jesus and everyone expects Jesus to give her a lecture. Instead, he says to the people "he who has not sinned, cast the first stone.' And nobody can throw a stone Cuz they have all sinned too. We are those people. He's a sinner, like the rest of us. And unless you are freef rom sin, which you're not cuz then you'd be God, then get off his case. Ok? Now that that is settled, I can move on.
This week has been interesting, to say the least. We started out in the upper 50's, and now it is 30 crappy degress again. And guess what!! More snow is on the way. Michigan sucks. I am greatful for the 3 days that I got to wear my filp flops. It was nice to have naked toes. Anyway, on the plus side of things, I got to hang out with my best friend Stacey all day one day this week. That was nice, cuz we don't get to do that much anymore. And next wednesday, I am going to see Red in concert. So that will be nice. I'll have no voice on thursday. Everyone will enjoy me being mute, I'm sure. And I got the new Red cd, after nearly 3 years of waiting. All I have to say is the wait was worth it. They are amazing. Seriously. Go buy it. You won't regret it. If you do, then you need to have your head examined. Cuz they rock. What else..... I'm kinda having a brain fart. Go figure. I blog, and my brain fails me. Anyway, I have been thinking a lot latley about people in my life that I have lost touch with for one reason or another. And why I have stopped talking to them. And it has got me really missing some people. I don't know what to do about it. I guess all I can do is pray about it, and if they are supposed to be in my life, they will be. Right? I dunno. All I know is that there are some people that I would give anything to talk to right now, just to know that they are ok. And to let them know how I am....although I am not oober well myself. I feel like maybe one of these people has answers to some of the things I am going through. Grrrr. I am very conflicted emotionally right now. Obviously. Anyway, I am not going to air all my dirty laundry on my blog. I am going to keep something to myself. But if you have any thoughts on what I have divulged, let me know. I need all the help I can get. And hey, even if you just want to tell me I am a few fries short of a happy meal, you can do that too. I am coming to terms with my dorkiness. With that said, I am going to jet for now. I don't really have much to say, and this is already getting to be a bunch of babble.

Waldo, Bethlehem, and Columbus, Ohio

Oh my.... I don't even know where to start. Saturday, Stacey and I took a road trip to go visit her boyfriend in Columbus, Ohio. He works with Toby Mac, and Winter Jam was in Ohio. So we got in the car, and went. On the way, we saw some random crap. Really random crap. We found a road called Bethlehem. And south of it was a town called Waldo. So we found Waldo!! No more asking "where's waldo?" Then, we found that stop lights in Columbus stay the same FOREVER. Like for minutes at a time. So we started calling them the "neverending stop lights". And the roads... oh sweet cookies the roads. They were soooooo confusing. I'd rather drive in Chicago, and that's crazy enough. So we don't really care for the roads in Columbus. So we get there, and the place where the show is, is on the campus of Ohio State. So I had to come home and wash off the buckeye stink. It made me wish that I would've warn my MSU shirt. But then I may have gotten shot in the face... no good. So I just had to endure it. Stinkin Buckeyes. Anyway, the show was fun. I had a minor star struck moment when I was literally within arms length of BarlowGirl.....but I made it. They have no idea how they've impacted my life. They were amazing that night. I rocked out. I also took a lot of pics. Pardon the fact that they are kinda blurry. Nick showed me some settings I wasn't aware of on my camera AFTER BarlowGirl was done on stage. But I thank him for showing me. Oh... and I learned that a crazy little device called a Rip Stick can be the most hilarious thing ever. Seriously. It was entertaining watching Toby's crew try to conquer it. I think only 2 of the guys actually figured it out. I didn't even try, because I fall down enough on my own. I didn't want to chance breaking my face in front of Toby's entire crew. Oh man... they made me realize why I love hanging out with crew. They are soooo hilarious and they know how to joke around and let loose. I needed that, to just be able to be absolutley crazy around people who weren't afraid to do the same thing.
On top of all of the random and hilarious things, I knew deep down that there was a reason that God had me at this show. I knew BarlowGirl was part of it, because God always uses them to speak to me. And they did. Well... Alyssa did. She made me cry... but good tears. I needed to hear what she had to say. But there was more than that that God wanted me to hear. I was very politely told that I need to stop making excuses, and just go for the things I want to accomplish in life. It's true, once I thought about it. When it comes to my photography, I am always making the excuse that I need a better camera before I can do anything serious with photography. So I don't feel the need to try to do anything with it. And with my job search. I am always making the excuse that I can't apply at certian places b/c my van is too bad, or it's too far away.... etc. And with moving to Nashville. It's always the excuse of not having the money to move. I realized that I need to listen to what God is telling me to do and to go for it. If it is honestly what God wants for me, then he will take care of the little things. I won't have to stress about them. God will provide. So I have a fire lit under me now. And I am still scared, because I am not certian of what lies ahead. But I am learning to take comfort in the fact that my heavenly father has my back. He will provide for me, he will keep me close. But I have to stop ignoring what he is telling me to do because I am afraid to do what he is telling me. I have to learn to let go.
So I'm not sure what's next. But I am excited to see where my life goes. And what other random things my friends and I can encounter on the way. Because if I have learned one thing from last weekend, it is that you just never know who or what God has in store for you. And you'll never know, if you don't trust in him

Help us make a difference.

Ok... tomorrow is the day. Tomorrow is January 22nd. Tomorrow is the day of silent protest to save the unborn. If you have no idea what I am talking about, please go to www.neversilencelife.com and click on the link titled 01.22.09. It will explain in detail what is going down tomorrow. I am asking y'all, with all my heart, to take part in this day. Please set aside time between noon and 2pm (or anytime that works for you) to pray. Pray for the unborn, and the rights that they have. Pray for the women who are currently faced with an unplanned pregnancy, who are comptemplating abortion. Pray that they choose life for their baby. Pray for our new president. And that he will make decisions based on God's plan for our nation, not just his own. Pray that the Freedom Of Choice Act does not pass, and that abortion laws will be made more strict. The only way that we can make a change is to take this to God. He is in control. More than the President, more than the senators, more than anyone in a seat of power. God is in the ultimate seat of power, he is in control. If we raise our voices together, to him, we will change the future. Let's band together as christians, and stand up for the lives of the unborn. It will only take you a few minutes to pray tomorrow. Set aside the time, talk to God, make a difference.