NEW GRAPHIC.

Word. Yes, picture of the day is FIRST for this entry :].

So I might be going on a random roadtrip.

Yes, I know I have that 7 page paper due on Monday, and I know I have work tomorrow morning.

However, this has the potential to be awesome. Christine, Jenny, Keith, and Daniel [Christine's cousin] and I are going to drop Dan off in North Carolina.

Could be fun :].

Peace.

Today.

I went to the beach. It was interesting. I wasn't really myself today, which was a bit of a downer, it made me want to be in Jersey all the more. So my apologies go out to the people who put up with my quiet mood today. 

But regardless I managed to have some fun :]. We longboarded/bicycled to the beach from Christine's family friend's house. Then we rode about 20 more blocks down to where we dropped off our stuff and hit up the ocean! The water was really warm, too warm for me. But cold for the southerners :]. Longboarding was so fun. Micah brought a conch shell and was blowing into it. Pretty hilarious. A bunch of us linked arms and just let the waves hit us, sort of interesting, but funny :]

I definitely needed the day to just relax! Much needed! I am tan :] I came back and finished my Worldviews paper [holllaaa!] so now I am just chilling.

Oh, I have two really big blisters on my feet from skating without shoes.

Ow.

K bye.

Picture of the Day: Need this.

My life.

Right now I keep on rolling 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 in my head. "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

A couple things happened today. #1. I met Jars of Clay today, briefly. They were cool dudes and they performed really well.

I went to New Life tonight and the word was so good. I need to be obedient, I need to be dedicated, I need Jesus. The worship was so appropriate, "All I need is You, Lord". It was just what my heart needed.

Unfortunately, I realized mid-service that my keys were missing. I learned after the service that they were safe... locked inside my car :[. I remained calm and searched for the hide-a-key... which wasn't there. Micah was helping me look and graciously drove me home this evening, sans the keys and other items in my car. At one point I just sort of froze, and I'm still sort of stuck, like... "what do I do now?" I am sad, but I'm okay, and trying to stay positive.

In conclusion, I need Jesus, I need to continue to rejoice even when my keys are in my car, and I need to focus.

Picture of the Day: My Brother Bear

I have swine flu.

Just kidding.

So I'm chilling at home. Loving it. Soaking in the Jersey. Today we had a five hour band practice that went very well. I'm pretty confident in our abilities to rock in two weeks! :]

The G-Pas and Aunt Sharon are here for the weekend, Meredith's graduation party was today, and Eric cheated in Slap Jack so that he could beat me [yeah, he's a great influence]. Charlie and I were driving back from practice and for the last few miles of the drive we beeped the horn and waved to every car in the opposite lane.

This post really isn't too special, but while you're reading, I would appreciate it if you could take the time to pray. :] I'm trying to figure out whether to go home in August or to stay for youth camp. I knoooww that youth camp will be an irreplaceable time to connect with the students, but I miss being in Jersey so much. More than I expected. So just pray that God will make it clear as to what I should do with the last month of summer. Thankkkk yaaaa :]

PEACE.

Picture of the Day: Senior Day '08

Skateboarding Accident...

So, maybe accident is a bit of an exaggeration, but I fell off my skateboard today. Haha. I have about 6-7 inches of my leg scraped up, not too bad, but scraped. My ankle's cut, my elbow's cut, my thigh has some scrapeage, and so does my right hand. Haha. Good times.

I was trying to avoid hitting Charlie as we passed by each other and I completely lost balance and fell. I saw blood and my first worry was "Did I get dirt or blood on my shirt?!" I was wearing my new white Hillsong United shirt. Very precious material.

:]. Thought I would share the story.

Adios.

Dear Jesus, get me over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

So last night I left Starbucks in Virginia Beach at 8:16 p.m. and pulled into my driveway in New Jersey at 2:13 a.m. I made very good time.

It's funny, because last time I blogged about driving home and crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, I was like, "Awww look at the pretty clouds and the nice water." This time around I was like... "Ohhhh poop." As I paid the toll to cross the bridge these stinking DARK clouds rolled in; the lighting was crazy. So there I was, in my little white Focus, in the middle of the bay, with waves crashing around me, an idiot driver going 30 mph in front of me, and lighting flashing over my head. I was praying across that bridge and sent out a mass "please pray for traveling mercies" text. Haha. As you can see, I made it over the bridge and arrived safely at home.

Oh, and I totally surprised my family. None of them knew I was coming. :] Hahaha I am a sneaky girl. I went up to Cat's room and was like, "Move over" and we talked for an hour before falling asleep in her bed. Haha. It was nice to see my little sistaaaaa. :]

Today Charlie and I got our cars washed and then we went longboarding for a bit. He taught me some fun tricks that I am excited to master :].

Meredith is graduating tonight! Which will be exciting. I am so happy for my friend.

Well, I'm gonna peace it. 

Picture of the Day: Summer, summer, summer!

REESES?

YES. Yesterday was quite the adventure. I am going to write it in story form.

Once upon a time, Christen, Keith, Jenny, and Micah thought it would be fun to go to Cape Charles on an outdoorsy adventure. While waiting for Micah to arrive, Christen, Keith, and Jenny went to Food Lion to pick up trail mix and other snacks. However, their hopes and dreams were crushed when the clouds rolled in and rain poured from above! They looked outside the window of Food Lion to see monsoon-like conditions. Their anticipation for a nice day sunk into the mud and puddles of Virginia Beach. 

Though the rain made them sad, Micah still joined them and they crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Kiptopeke State Park. By this time, the rain had cleared and the sun shone brightly.

Excited, the four parked the car and jumped out of the vehicle, ready for an adventure. After using the bathroom about 246408 times, the team was suited up in swimming gear and headed to the bay for  some swimming. They found beer bottles, seaweed, LIVE sand dollars, and weird spikey plants. When they finished playing frisbee and making up superhero names, C,K,J, and M decided to go fishing. They casted their lines and waited. Keith caught a Croaker [ew!] and an eel, which a Japanese man took from us because we didn't need a live eel. Also, Christen and Micah had a photo shoot with a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup. Micah was a great model.

1260458689643 bug bites later, the group packed into the car and headed back to school so that Micah could be home by bedtime. In the car, Jenny played a mix of songs that brought Christen back to her eighth grade years.

Finally, the friends arrived at school and went their separate ways. Christen was a tired girl, so she brushed her teeth and went straight to bed.

It was a good day and they all lived happily ever after.

The end.

Pictures of the Day: I stole these from Jenny, but since my camera is broken I wanted to at least post a few :]

Jenny and the Sand dollar

Micah REALLYY wanted a Reeses [pronounced "Ree-siz"]

Micah and  Christen attempt to unplug the ocean.

Group feet. Micah; please tame your toes. Thanks.

That girl in the blue bathing suit is really attractive.

Jenny holding a Croaker. Ew. At least Jenny looks beautiful. :]

Keith caught an eel!

Ready to head home after a fun adventure!

I am going on an adventure today.

No I'm not.

Yes I am.

No I'm not.

Yes I-- okay.

I am going with Jenny, Keith, and Micah [maybe some others?] to a state park. I'm pretttyy excited about it. Of course, I will probably update about this tomorrow.

But. Last night was cool. And worth mentioning.

I went for a walk around campus last night. It was absolutely beautiful.

I'm definitely a thunderstorm girl, and there was this BIG cloud almost over the Commons. Reasons why this was awesome:

#1. The cloud was like, five times bigger than the Commons.

#2. The lighting would come in pretty purple flashes, or sharp, bright bolts.

#3. It was totally a "Wow, God's amazing because this cloud is stinking HUGE and powerful, and beautiful.

#4. It did not rain on me :]

It was a humbling moment for me, because there I was just walking, but up in the sky, God's power and control was revealed. So neat. :]

Also, I dreamt last night that Charlie and I went snowboarding. On the beach. And there were a lot of penguins there. Weird.

Well, time to prepare for today's adventure.

Peace :]

Picture of the Day: Not "the cloud" but "a cloud" 

I am in lovvee with these lyrics.

"Soon" by Brooke Fraser...

Soon and very soon  

My King is coming 

Robed in righteousness  

And crowned with love 

When I see Him  

I shall be made like Him 

Soon and very soon 

 

Soon and very soon I'll be going 

To the place He has prepared for me 

There my sin erased 

My shame forgotten 

Soon and very soon 

I will be with the One I love 

With unveiled face I'll see Him 

There my soul will be satisfied 

Soon and very soon 

Soon and very soon  

See the procession 

The angels and the elders  

'Round the throne 

At His feet I'll lay my crowns 

My worship 

Soon and very soon 

 

Though I have not seen Him 

My heart knows Him well 

Jesus Christ the Lamb 

The Lord of heaven 

--P.S. A quick update:

-Momma's doing better.

-Pecan [Cat's guinea pig] died.

-My flyer went out in a big e-mail today :]

-I am a confused girl, but praying. I know God's got it alll taken care of, I just need to trust, trust, trust.

-I'm shooting a commercial tomorrow.

-I was on a film shoot last weekend. Fun!

-I like my job.

-I talked to Bekah Pepper today.

Picture of the Day: W1L1

Not like Hillsong United was amazing or anything...

OH WAIT. THEY WERE.

Dude. 

For real. 

Hillsong United was OFF. THE. HOOK.

Proobbbably more memorable than the Audio Adrenaline concert. 

And Audio A was mad awesome; yeah I was the girl that hand pounded Mark Stewarts hand...

But seriously.

Thanks to some very fortunate "happenings" we got FRONT ROW SEATS!

Yes, FRONT STINKING ROW.

Ah-freaking-mazing.

I was very sweaty.

My calves are sore from jumping.

But the concert was worth it.

The band played so well and led the whole audience into some real intense worship.

Probably the second most powerful worship experience ever.

[The first being the last night of The Masters Inn]

I got a really cool T-shirt to remember the night.

However I do not have pictures because my camera is broken :[.

"Bummerrr!"

Either way, concert= incredible and worth every penny!

Oh wait, one more thing.

At one point they opened the doors of the auditorium and the ocean breeze came in.

SO AWESOME.

In other news.

I'm back in Virginia.

I wish I wasn't. 

I miss home.

Momma's teeth hurt and I wish I could have stayed longer to help her out around the house and stuff.

Since Mom's out of commission, I wanted to help Daddy at work.

That didn't happen.

I skipped out on Hillsong United concert #2 because I'm really tired.

I didn't get to say goodbye to EMILY or KATIE. [I emphasized these names because I know you guys check to see if I mentioned you in my blog]

This WAS the best Jersey visit so far.

Not to be a downer, but someone please remind me next year not to take summer courses so I could be with my family and friends from home more. 

Thanks.

Oh, and Chipotle is awesome.

So is Starbucks and homemade dinners with shrimp and "funny ronis"

Peace.

Picture of the Day: Now With Added Lyrics!

Cereal boxes.

First off. Hillsong United concert today. SO STINKING STOKED.

Second. Maybe it's just me, but remember when the back of cereal boxes would have super fun games and riddles and mazes? I miss that. I am currently eating "Honey Smacks" for breakfast and I am really disappointed in their box. There are no fun or entertaining games on it, just an advertisement for a flash drive you get if you send in 8 box coupons. Also, the box is Star Trek themed. Now, I really enjoyed the new Star Trek movie, but it was rated PG-13. Is a PG-13 movie appropriate for a cereal box that 5 year-olds will be looking at. There's nothing inappropriate on the box, but if kids want to go see the movie, there are sexual-ish scenes and references that are not suitable for the eyes of children under 13. The flash drive prize is recommended for children 8 and up; that's pretty young. Couldn't they have used Up or something instead of Star Trek? I would imagine that most kids eating this cereal would be between the ages of 4 and 13 [with the exception of me haha].

I don't know. These are just my thoughts.

Picture of the Day: The Box that Needs Fixin'!