Lesson 30: Let people know where you stand.

Sometimes I find myself compromising my values and beliefs just to spare an argument. And yes, there are some things that it is okay to compromise on. But when it comes down to it, compromising on things that are very important to you will do you nothing but harm. My most recent ex-boyfriend believed that the relationship required a physical part. And of course it does...but not to the extreme that he wanted to take it. I believe that people should wait until they are sure that they want to move forward emotionally before they take any physical steps. At first it wasn't much of a problem, but as the relationship progressed it became the topic of most of our arguments. Soon we couldn't go through a whole day without arguing about this. And that would lead to bigger problems. Eventually, we ended it because out differences were too great.


All I'm saying is that compromising on the beliefs that are most dear to you is...bad. So stand up for what you believe in and more importantly, know what you believe in(:

"We see the world not as it is, but as we are."

Lesson 29: Become more aware.


So this past semester I took a class called Social Change. I thought it was going to be ridiculously boring and depressing because we had to discuss the current economic crisis. I wasn't prepared for it to be the most informational and life-changing class I've ever been a part of. 


What I learned:
1. [www.nationmaster.com]- Go here to see exactly how wasteful and well off Americans really are. It will really shock you.
2. Local. This word means nothing to most of us. But it should. Shopping local, eating local, buying local. All of these things can make your community a better place to live. And it can help the people who live right there in your area make a living.
3. Stop driving those stupid, gas-guzzling cars. This is something that annoys me to no end. Why drive a ridiculous car that gets terrible gas mileage? Why drive 20 miles to work when you could carpool or take the bus? Why drive from your dorm to the library or the store when you could walk or bike there? These extremely simple changes can make a world of difference in your community and the whole world.


I've already made the personal choice to leave my car behind when I return to college in August. It was an unnecessary possession that I feel can be easily replaced by a bicycle. Also, I've decided to attempt to stop shopping as much at places such as Walmart and Starbucks and start finding locally owned shops. Make these changes! For yourself and your community! (:

"I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating. "

Lesson 28: Don't cheat.

I'm referring to every aspect of the word. School and relationships.


1. School: Nothing bothers me more then when I work for days on a really tough assignment and then on the day it's due someone in my class leans over and whispers "Hey, can I look at yours real fast to see if I got them all right?" I want to respond with "Heck no you can't. You can kiss my booty and do your own  assignment." But of course I am way too nice to say something that mean so I just lie and say "Oh, I don't think I did it right either." Seriously guys, just do your own work. It really scares me to think that my future doctors, lawyers or nurses were once students who copied someone else's work to get the required grade. Just do it. This especially bothers me at the college level. In high school you are pretty much forced to be there so if you cheat on a really tough or pointless assignment..I'm not saying it's okay, but I do understand. But in college it's a whole new ballgame. You pay these professors to teach you and give you the knowledge to complete your degree and you are basically cheating yourself. That's really dumb. So just do your work and stop being a baby. 


2. Relationships: This is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. I've had very few honest relationships. Not on my part, but on my significant others. I hate people who think they can "have their cake and eat it too"...for lack of a better phrase. If you really want to cheat on someone....just break up with them. It's ridiculously selfish to think you should be able to do that and get away with it. I think cheaters is the main reason I have extreme trust issues. Sometimes I feel like the world has ran out of people that are willing to be honest to one another. And it drives me nuts. Just tell the truth and I'm positive you'll be MUCH happier.

NEVERSHOUTNEVER♥

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

Lesson 27: No one is in charge of your happiness, except you.


Sometimes I tend to think that other people effect how happy I am with my life. And that is totally the opposite. I am in control of my happiness completely and no matter what anyone else does, it shouldn't effect me at all. I, personally, struggle with being responsible for my own happiness 100% of the time. So yeah, be happy. For yourself and no one else(:

“Let us live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”

Lesson 26: Be extraordinary. 

Nine tips for living an extraordinary life:
1. Approve of yourself.
2. Your limitations may just be in your mind.
3. Lighten up and have some fun.
4. Let go of anger.
5. Release yourself from entitlement.
6. If you’re taking a different path, prepare for reactions.
7. Keep your focus steadily on what you want.
8. Don’t focus so much on making yourself feel good.
9. Do what you want to do.

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

Lesson 25: Pray often.


Prayer is the most powerful thing ever. It's kind of a way of having a personal conversation with God. Sometimes I like to just sit outside and just talk to God like I was talking to my best friend. It's really nice to have someone to depend on even when it feels like the whole world has turned it's back on you. This past semester was a pretty tough one for me and I had some of the weakest moments of my entire life. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my amazing God to turn to in my times of trouble. When I was feeling really low I would just take a walk to a more private part of campus and talk it out with God. Another thing that prayer brought me to realize is that you shouldn't ask God to do what you want with your life. Instead you should ask for His will to be done. Also bargaining with God is really silly. You can't just say "Okay God if you let me pass this test I will totally study for every other test" or "If you help my grandpa get better I will become a better Christian." It really doesn't work that way. God has a set plan for your life and you shouldn't question his intentions. I'm not completely guiltless about all of this but I'm constantly asking for God to help me be a better person for Him. 

"You can explore the universe looking for somebody who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and you will not find that person anywhere."

Lesson 24: It's okay to be single.


So according to my dear sister Tallah, everyone should always be in a committed relationship. And for a very long time I worried that I was the weird one because I didn't always agree. I worried that I was somehow behind the loop and I would never get married. Which was absolutely ridiculous. As it turns out, I'm completely normal. I've discovered that it's okay to not be committed to one person or thing just yet. Some people see being single as a bad thing and that the individual should try to find said relationship before time ran out. Well that's just stupid. There are plenty of people out there are very happy being single and they are not concerned with finding that special someone so soon.


What I'm trying to say is, enjoy your life. When we are born, we are born alone. We live our whole lives essentially alone. And when we die, we die alone. So does it really matter in the long run? No. Of course it is nice to have a significant other to depend on but don't make finding a relationship the focus of your life. 

Like he says, substitute girlfriend if that applies to you better(:

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book."

Lesson 23: READ!


This is my favorite lesson. I was reading a really good book before I went to work and I had to put my book down to leave. And I was so frustrated! I hate having to stop when I'm right in the middle of a good story. I wish more people had a passion for reading because it just gives you a view into a whole other world. So seriously guys....READ! (:

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."

Lesson 22: Be brave.


Despite what I've believed in the past, I'm starting to think that it might be okay to go out of my comfort zone. I mean when you really think about it, we only really do live once and if you don't do it right the first time you don't get another chance. So why not talk to someone you've always been curious about? Or why not go to a place you've never been before? Whenever you question something you consider doing, ask yourself why not? If we all live our lives too terrified to take risks and make it worth it.....then why even live?


I'm not saying to go out and do something completely stupid and illegal. Like, rob a bank. But I just feel like you need to make your life worth it. Because when you die its not gonna matter what job you had or how many friends you had or who knew your name. That stuff will only matter to you. So when you look back on your life make it worth watching(:

"All great men are gifted with intuition. They know without reasoning or analysis, what they need to know."

Lesson 21: Follow your intuition.


I've had a really busy past few day. But in a good way(: So I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. No, first impressions aren't always right. But nine times out of ten, they are. I've learned that recently. 

I love Bo Burnham!

"Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth." (:

Lesson 20: Love the world we live in.

No, I'm not a tree-hugger or one of those crazy vegans(: I just really don't want to live to see humans be the destruction of this wonderful planet. When I see people litter or driving environmentally unfriendly cars...I want to slap them. When I see an forest area being torn down to build a housing development or yet another Walmart...I question the intelligence of some of my fellow human beings. I just don't understand why people can't recycle or walk places instead of drive or even drive cars that are better for the environment. Why? It's really more convenient and better for you to do all of those things. Like, seriously. Stop.

Tips:
-Simplify: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future.
-Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
-Buy Used: Buy used products whenever possible. 
-Tree-Free Home: As much as possible, create a tree-free home.
-Borrow and share with friends!
-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!(

"That which is striking and beautiful is not always good, but that which is good is always beautiful."

Lesson 19: The prettiest people can do the ugliest things.


So I had a really busy day yesterday and I fell asleep before I could do this so here it is...a day late(:


I'm really tired of people judging others based on looks. Seriously guys, what's up with that? In your life have you not realized that its not necessarily those with good looks that are the nicest? I once knew this guy who people thought was physically unattractive. And I first I thought so too. But slowly as I got to know him, his physical appearance started to matter less and less because he was such a great guy. By the time we left for summer break I could honestly say that I no  longer noticed his looks at all. Since he was such a good person and such a nice guy it didn't matter what he looked like at all.
Stop judging people based on their looks and start getting to know people before you judge them AT ALL. Better yet, stop judging. It makes life so much easier.

Such a cheesy representation. But this movie really drives this point home(:

"This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."

Lesson 18: Just do it.

Even if you are not a fan of movies like this, The Art of Getting by is definitely a MUST SEE. It and some other things that have happened recently in my life have made me realize that we only get one chance to do this. Sometimes I find myself thinking "oh well I'll just do that another time." When though? When will I stop postponing my dreams and things that I want to do with my limited time on this earth? There are so many things I want to do and I'm doing absolutely none of them. Sometimes I feel like dropping out of college and just seeing the world or moving to a new place. Just starting over somewhere and finding adventure. Yes, it's very silly to think about doing this but I mean what if it's what I truly want to do? When will I get the chance to do all of this? I don't want to be like the woman in "Eat, Pray, Love" and be fifty when I realize that I've wasted my life doing something I don't want to do. That is just the saddest thing I've ever heard. I don't want to end up regretting my entire life. I want to experience and live and explore. From the day we are born we are dying and some of us never really live. I'm not gonna let that be me. I swear on it.

"We can't see the future, so maybe we should stop looking." (:

Lesson 17: Don't stop believin' (:
good song. enough said.

"Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we're here we should dance."

Lesson 16: Know where you're going in life. You may already be there.


Just read it!


A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took him to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked the American.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs. I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

"And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my friend, that's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start buying and selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" asked the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral of this story is: Know where you're going in life. You may already be there.

"I have a "carpe diem" mug and, truthfully, at six in the morning the words do not make me want to seize the day. They make me want to slap a dead poet."

Lesson 15: Rise early.

I know, I know. I'm telling you to do the impossible. It's summer break (for most of us) and sleeping late is one of the luxuries of having no school. But it's proven that if you wake up earlier, you will have a better day.


Tips:
-Don't make drastic changes. Start waking up a little bit earlier than the day before.
-Allow yourself to sleep earlier. Don't spend hours watching tv or surfing the internet.
-Put your alarm clock far from your bed. Its less tempting to hit the snooze button this way(:
-Go out of your bedroom as soon as you hit the alarm. Don't allow time to rationalize going back to bed.
-Have a good reason. Set goals for yourself for the morning.
-Take advantage of the extra time. Don't get up early just to sit around watching tv or playing on facebook. Be productive!


It doesn't seem so thrilling right now. But I promise, it's totally worth it!

“Everything happens for a reason. Every action has a reaction. Always remember that whats meant to be will always find a way to come about.”

Lesson 14: Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.


This is from the wonderful and wise Dalai Lama. And there is immense truth to it. If I had gotten everything I wanted throughout life I wouldn't be half the person I am today. This kind of goes back to one of my previous lessons. You can't really control anything about your future so why try? Everything happens according to God's plan. Jeremiah 29:11 says:

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Anyways, sometimes not getting what you want shows you what you need. If everyone got everything they wanted in life...scary thought. You just need to remember that everything happens for a reason. So just go with it(:

“Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit”

Lesson 13:  Meditation is legit.

Before I thought meditating was something that monks and Buddhists practiced as part of their religion. In reality, it's a common way to relax and focus your thoughts. It helps clear your mind of everyday troubles and makes even the most boring of situations more tolerable.

How to:
1) Make time to meditate-. Set aside enough time in your daily routine for meditating. The effects of meditation  are most noticeable when you do it regularly and consistently rather than sporadically.
2) Find or create a quiet, relaxing environment-. It's especially important, when you're starting out, to avoid any obstacles to attention. Turn off any TV sets, phone(s) or other noisy appliances. If you play music, make sure it's calm, repetitive and gentle, so as not to break your concentration. Meditating outside can be conducive, as long as you don't sit near a busy roadway or another source of loud noise.
3) Sit on level ground. Sit on a cushion if the ground is uncomfortable. You don't have to twist your limbs into the half lotus or full lotus position or adopt any unusual postures. The important thing is to keep your back straight, as this will help with breathing later on.
4) Relax everything, and keep searching for things that aren't relaxed. When you find them, (and you will), relax them. You may find that you can't relax them unless you adjust your posture so that you are better aligned, and that place doesn't need to work anymore. This commonly happens with muscles near your spine. You may also notice that you are twisted a little and need to straighten out. Little muscles in your face often keep getting tense, too.
5)Let your attention rest on the flow of your breath. Listen to it, follow it, but make no judgments on it (such as "It sounds a little raspy...maybe I'm getting a cold?"). The goal is to allow the "chattering" in your mind to gradually fade away. Find an "anchor" to settle your mind.
6)Silence your mind. Once you've trained your mind to focus on just one thing at a time, the next step is focus on nothing at all, essentially "clearing" your mind. This requires tremendous discipline but is the pinnacle of meditation. After focusing on a single point as described in the previous step, you can either cast it away, or observe it impartially and let it come and then go, without labeling it as "good" or "bad". Take the same approach to any thoughts which return to your mind until silence perseveres.


WARNING!  It's not going to be easy. Don't expect automatic results. It will take some time to be able to completely empty your thoughts.

“Every day is a good day, some are just a little better than others”

Lesson 12:  Find something you love and pursue it.

Today was wind training day for marching band...yes, I'm a dork(:  Although it was REALLY hot, it rained so hard we got soaked and I worked harder than I have all summer...I had so much fun. I honestly love marching band. And it feels great to have something I love so much. I think everyone should have a side passion. Find something you enjoy and go for it! I absolutely cannot wait for band camp. Gosh, I sound like a loser. Oh well. On to another message...


Lesson 12.5: WEAR SUNSCREEN.


No matter how many times I get sunburnt I still never wear sunscreen. It's something I need to do. For the sake of my health and my future. Skin cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancer and its something I NEVER want to deal with. So this summer....please be safe(:

"I must do something" always solves more problems than "Something must be done." (:

Lesson 11: You are responsible for everything you do.


This is something everyone must learn as part of growing up. And everyone will learn it one day. You can do whatever you want...you just have to live with the consequences. 


One day I was having a really bad day. I had a lot of homework plus other things I had to attend. Throughout the course of the day I snapped at a good friend, blew off a lunch date and argued with my roommate. Plus I believe I was just downright rude to everyone I encountered that day. That night as I was laying in bed I realized that none of the people that I was mean to did anything to negatively impact my day. I was just rude because they were there.


Basically, I'm saying it doesn't mad if you are angry, happy or sad. You are still very much responsible for your actions.

Too cute? I thought so too(:

"Don't take like too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyways."

Lesson 10: It's okay to be selfish sometimes.

So this is plain and simple. Don't focus so much on the stupid things and forget to think about yourself. Everyone needs a little time for themselves. Don't be afraid to think of yourself for once! 

This is irrelevant. But if you've never seen these videos, you are missing out(: Watch episode 1-4. 

"You can't undo anything you've already done, but you can face up to it.You can tell the truth. You can seek forgiveness. And let God do the rest."(:

Lesson 9: Forgive yourself.


This is absolutely the hardest lesson. I find that it is easier to forgive others for their faults than myself. I tend to be especially harsh when judging my own actions. I need to start forgiving myself for mistakes I have made. Because I deserve it.


Oprah is someone I definitely admire. I found this website useful and insightful when it comes to forgiving yourself.


http://www.oprah.com/spirit/Rituals-for-Forgiveness/1


YOU deserve to forgive yourself. For whatever burden you are carrying. It will give you true happiness. I PROMISE.

“Sex is more than an act of pleasure. Its' the ability to be able to feel so close to a person, so connected, so comfortable that it's almost breathtaking to the point you feel you can’t take it. And at this moment you're a part of them.”

Lesson 8: Sex is a big deal.


Honestly I'm tired of hearing about sex. So I know this post is a little counterproductive, but oh well.  This is what I'm so sick of hearing:


-Wrong- "I need sex."
 Right- "I've tricked my mind into thinking I need it but the truth is, I just really enjoy it."
-Wrong- "If we get more physical, it will make us closer."
  Right- "If we get more physical, it might make us closer. Or it could lead to some pretty bad consequences.
-Wrong- "Waiting till marriage is dumb because you won't know if you are sexually compatible."
 Right- "Waiting till marriage is pretty smart because then you are guaranteed no negative consequences..like babies or stds. 




I guess I should be completely honest. No, I'm not a virgin. And I have no problem admitting this. I have made mistakes that I regret but now that has changed and I plan on remaining pure until I marry. I should have had this mindset from the beginning. I guess I'm just tired of the way society looks at sexuality and the like. For example, when I was in middle school we had a boys table and a girls table. If you were a girl and sat with the boys, you were a slut. Lol. Nowadays kids are having sex in middle school and getting pregnant. It just seems...ridiculous. Society needs to go back to thinking of sex as a personal, intimate and important act.

A friend posted this today. I absolutely loved it. I almost cried. It's insightful and very moving. Almost everyone can relate. If you never watch anything else, watch this.

http://www.box.net/shared/h3i8865ipi

(Those are the words written down.)

"Don't worry, be happy." (:

Lesson 7: If something won’t be significant to you 3 days/3 months/3 years from now, don’t waste your time worrying about it now.


This lesson is very simple. Stop worrying.  Worrying does absolutely no good and will solve nothing. You're not in control of your life anyways. God is. So what good does it do to worry? That's right, NONE! It's really hard, I know. But if you just let go of all your worries and realize you can't control anything, life gets better(:


HAKUNA MATATA!(:

"The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears."

Lesson 6: It's okay to cry.


All of my life I've been a pretty emotional person. I don't like crying in front of people but I have no problem in doing so. I always hear people say that they hate crying or showing strong emotion in front of people and I really don't understand it. If you are capable of showing your feelings to the world, all the means is that you are truly alive and free. When I see someone crying in public I don't say to myself "Wow, what a freak." Instead I attempt to provide a listening ear or just think "What a brave soul to show everyone how they are truly feeling. When did it become okay to show great happiness, fear or relief but a terrible social no-no to show sadness? 


I believe it's okay to be sad. It's okay to cry. It's okay to cry wherever you are and no matter who is around.




As long as you get over it and it makes you stronger(:


"Crying doesn't indicate that you're weak. Ever since you were born, it's been a sign that you're alive."




Just to make sure there is no crying right now...
-Two zebras are talking and one asks the other, "Am I black with white 
stripes or white with black stripes?" The other replies, "Well I don't 
know. You should pray to God about that and ask him." So that night he did 
and God replied, "You are what you are." The next day he said to the other 
zebra, "I still don't understand what I am because God just said, 'You are 
what you are.'" The second zebra responds, "You must be white with black 
stripes or else God would have said, Yo' is what yo' is."

*This joke is meant to be cute and funny. Not to offend anyone! Promise(:*

"Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. "

Lesson 5: It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary.


Have you ever noticed that happiness comes through the most simple of things? As I look back on the happiest times of my life, I realize they were also the simplest. My favorite memory occurred two years ago when I went to the beach with my friends after high school graduation. We tried to plan activities and places to go but it always ended up falling through. Then on our third day there we took a midnight walk on the beach and one of the boys brought a football along. When we had reached the pier and decided the lighting was good enough we started playing a game of football. Well, we only had five people and none of us had actually ever played football. But we still had the time of our lives. After that night we came back every night of our trip and played tag, football or some other silly game. It was honestly one of the most carefree moments of my entire life. As we laid on the beach amongst the sand crabs, seashells and reef bits I understood what true happiness was. It's the simple knowledge that you are with true friends and doing something you truly love. I heard a piece of advice that greatly inspired me. 


"Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. And then you will know happiness."


This is just beach sounds. It always helps me relax and greatly reduces my stress level(:

"Life is too short to hold a grudge, also too long."

Lesson 4: Get mad, then get over it.


Personally, I'm incapable of holding a grudge  for a long time. I hate being mad at someone and vice versa. I just feel like sometimes people (including myself) blow things out of proportion. Whenever I argue or fight with someone I tend to wait a day or so and then try to talk it out. But a lot of times people are so strong headed that they still want to argue. Do you not realize how completely silly it is not to talk things out? Especially if you are really close to that person. After a person completely shuts me out like that I have a hard time caring whether or not things get fixed.  Basically, what I'm trying to say is STOP BEING SO UNWILLING TO MAKE PEACE. Grudges are silly and completely unnecessary.


"Apologizing doesn’t mean that you are wrong, and the other person is right. It means that you value relationship
much more than your ego." AMEN!






Lesson 4.5: Don't be mean!


I just had to post something about this. This morning I heard the most awful thing ever. Someone being bullied and targeted for absolutely no reason. Basically for just being themselves. I just hate that. Why do people feel the need to tear people down for NO REASON? I just don't understand. Also, if you have something to say to someone, say it to them. Don't hide behind a computer or another person or  VANDALISM. Just sayin'(:






Watch this! It has some kind of bad language but Luan is so funny! And it will definitely make your day!

"All the turtles are free. As turtles and, maybe, all creatures should be.”(:

Lesson 3: Snapping turtles are actually very fast.


So honestly, due to the fact that I worked all day and I'm really tired I didn't really learn much today. EXCEPT that snapping turtles aren't like your regular old slow turtle. When I got off work my mom had decided to grill out. But it was dark and our back porch light was burnt out. So I went to flip the burgers and my dog Bighead accompanied me(: I kept hearing this snapping noise but I just thought it was a bug. And then I saw something moving across the year. I thought it was a rabbit or a squirrel and sent Bighead to investigate. Suddenly, he yelped! I got totally freaked out and tried to run back into my house but as I got closer to the porch I saw a LARGE  turtle blocking my path. I was like oh well, it's just a turtle. Boy was I wrong. That sucker chased me across the yard hissing and snapping the whole way. I mean, I'm exaggerating because it didn't catch me or anything. It really wasn't that fast.But still it was a whole lot faster than I could imagine a turtle being. 




So I guess the lesson for today is always expect the unexpected. Oh, and snapping turtles are completely evil(:

“Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”(:

Lesson 2: God loves you and always will.


I think this is the most incredible thing ever. The fact that no matter what you do, what you say or what others think of you, God's love is eternal. When I was very young, my parents would make me go to church most every Sunday and I think that kind of turned me off church and religion. When I was old enough to make this decision for myself I decided I didn't want to go to church and I thought it was a waste of time. This continued all the way up until I was in college. Then I had a friend on facebook who would always post statuses about God's love, promise and just how just overall great He is. It made me want to know all of it myself and experience this great love. So I spoke to this friend and he helped me begin my walk with Jesus(: It hasn't been easy since there are so many earthly temptations but I am trying my hardest to live for Him. This blog post isn't something that I intended to sound like I was trying to persuade people to follow Jesus or become a Christian. I just know that when you completely surrender to God and let him take control of your life, it's the best feeling in the entire world. Better than anything this world can provide.


Here are some of my favorite Bible verses and quotes that kind of sum up God's love for you(:
- John 3:16-"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "
-1 John 4:8-"Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love"
-Proverbs 3:5-6-“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your w acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”  THIS IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!


Okay! Go here!  You'll like it!
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html



Or if you're just to lazy/tired/whatever to read it...