Gram

My grandmother is one of the most amazing people I ever knew. And I don't ever talk about her. And I wish I did, because she's that amazing. I tried writing a song for her after she died. It's an unfinished one, because every line didn't seem to be enough to express how amazing she is. Even the word 'amazing' is an understatement to just how wonderful she is. I like to think I get some of my artistic talent from her. She could take anything that we as a society see as ugly, horrendous, and disgusting, and turn it into a beautiful piece of art. She was that good. My favorite thing she had ever done was this horse head sculpture. I have a picture of it somewhere, but no photography skills of mine could show how awesome of a piece it is. It's currently sitting in Andrew's room and it's actually Ryan's, and he plans to put it back in his room soon. The last time I was at my aunt's, I stayed in Andrew's room and I can remember sitting there and just staring at it. I mean really staring at it. I noticed all the lines, the way she put it together, everything. And I felt at peace. I felt calm, like I was safe within myself. I like to think that I am like her in some ways as far as the artist in us goes. Like I said before, she can take ugly things and make them beautiful. People are always telling me that they never thought an ugly thing could look so good in a photograph, but it does. I am always trying to find an awesome shot. I am always imagining how a shot could look. Granted, I don’t get to try and capture a lot of them, but the ones that I do, turn out really well. Epiphany (well I actually had it earlier): What inspires me to take pictures and make the world around us more beautiful than it already is? Gram. It’s because of her that I know that there are really good people in this world. It’s because of her that I see the world the way that I do. It’s because of her that I was not and am not afraid to tell her anything.

Before Anna, she was my sole best friend. During Anna, she was my best friend. After Anna, she was my sole best friend. She is never judging anyone. She never cared about what her crazy grandchildren did, as long as we were happy. She loved us much much much more than Anna loved me. We could walk in the house with purple Mohawk, tattoos all over us, piercings in who-knows-what, and she would still love us just as much as if we walked into the house dressed in preppy clothes. I feel like she would be the only grandparent that I could tell that I am bi, and she would never judge me.

When Gram was in the hospital, we knew she was going to go soon, and I never saw her in the hospital. It’s not like I didn’t love her, I love her than anything in this world. I just thought that it would be better that I remembered her the way that I did, this strong, beautiful, and feisty woman. Not the sick looking one in the hospital bed. I never got to say goodbye and today, I would trade that for anything in this world. Just to be able to tell her that I love her and that I’ll miss her. I had four grandparents and one is still alive. I have yet been able to say goodbye to them. It kills me sometimes to know that. But I know that they still love me anyways. I know that they still want what is best for me, for all of their crazy kids and grandkids.

Gram was a crazy woman, but she was a very loved woman. The next time I saw her after she had gone into the hospital was at her funeral. She was laying in that casket as beautiful as ever. But I met so many people that day, including her best friend. I still wish sometimes that I had met her while Gram was still alive, but I still feel blessed to know her. She told me a lot of stories about the things that she and Gram did. Many of which I had already heard, but still loved hearing them again. The service was a beautiful one and I like to believe that Gram would most definitely agree.

I still feel her presence around me sometimes. I like to think that she and Anna are up there (for they never met in real life), telling stories and laughing, and being there for me when I so desperately need them. So I say this again, Gram was an amazing, crazy, beautiful, not judging, beautiful, wonderful woman.

Biloxi

I am starting to see how Jason gets behind on this haha
I am currently on spring break for the week and I am in Biloxi, back at Lemoyne Boulevard Baptist Church, doing more work. I really enjoyed it during winter break and plus Sammy didn't want to be the only girl in the group. The first day, Monday, we got here, it was about 6ish and so we went to the beach, where Justin broke his toe. He didn't get it checked out til today though. Yesterday, Tuesday, we went around cleaning up houses for the nexct group to come in and build on the house. Then about 4, we got done, showered, went to walmart, and then went to the beach for a picnic and to watch the sunset! It was pretty cool. I must have taken over 230 pictures yesterday alone. Today, Sammy and I stayed at the church and popped pills. The church helps sponsor this free clinic and they get all their meds from pharmecuetical companies and they are in like sample form, and they need it in well, not sample form. So they need people to pop them out of their little packages. That's where the whole pill-popping thing comes from haha. And Sammy and I did it all day. Ty helped us in the morning before lunch and Justin helped us in the afternoon. Needless to say, my thumbs HURT!
My shoulders also hurt from the wood we were carrying back and forth and im pretty sure i'll be getting a fiberglass zit on my arm from the insulation, but it's all good.
I've been thinking of talking to Alan and seeing if it's at all possible to maybe stay here for a semester. I've been thinking of taking a semester off, and rather laying around doing nothing, I could be here, making a difference, and the church could help my find a paying job while i am here. I don't know, it's just something that's been on my mind alot. There's alot on my mind these days haha but I am just trying to focus on getting off academic probation for this semester.

So many thoughts going around in my brain and no way to really sort it out.
Story of my life.

I'll try to update more, and I'll try to keep ya'll updated on the whole Summer in Biloxi possibility...

Life goals

So I'm sitting here and I can't sleep. I decided to go through some old documents on my computer. Lo and behold! I found my life goals that I wrote when I was either a Junior or Senior. It says something about wanting to read the Bible so I know it wouldn't be from my Freshman or Sophomore year of high school! Most of these haven't even changed, in fact, none of them have changed! :) It's in here just I had written it!If I have, in fact, done it, I'll say so and add commentary if I feel it is necessary. :D Enjoy

1. Skydive
2. Go to Ireland
3. Do at least two mission trips
(I have completed one and am planning to go to Mexico on another one)
4. Publish a book that’s either poetry or an actual story
5. Visit London
6. Learn to surf
7. Kiss in the pouring rain
8. Backpack across Europe
9. Spend the night on the beach
10. Have a bonfire with as many friends possible
(that actually happened on the CCF Fall Retreat 2008!)
11. Get mentioned in some newspaper, I don’t even care if it’s my college’s paper!
(I am currently Writer of the Week, or was by the time this gets read, in the West Georgian)
12. Take a road trip across the U.S. and I have to visit every state
13. Lay in a field and just watch the clouds go by
14. Take a clear picture of Orion
(I am close to achieving this, I have the equipment, the weather won't cooperate with me!)
15. Publish a photography project
(I have several ideas for a project, like I said before, I have the equipment, I just have no time!)16. See the fireworks in San Antonio
(Did that summer 2005 with my youth group at the ELCA Youth Gathering)
17. Read the entire Bible
(I have currently read the entire book of Matthew, Job, and Isaiah, but I would like to read them in order!)
18. Impact someone’s life, even if it’s only one person
(I've been told check this off several times :])
19. Forgive someone whom I know needs it, I just cannot bring myself to do it
20. To be told that I give awesome hugs!
(Since the beginning of last semester, I've been told this a few times!)
21. Get a tattoo of a bible verse
(CHECK! It's on my right leg, right above my ankle, and it says 'Matthew 6:34')
22. Drive by a Fraternity house and just blare Christian music ( I would love to see their reaction!!)
(I actually did this! Can you believe it??? Needless to say, they weren't happy with me and my friend trying blare christian music over theirs. Oh well haha)
23. Hit a home run
24. Own a vintage Mustang

This is a story that I wrote for Jennifer Robinson, just out of the blue one day. I planned on giving her the story first so that she could read before anyone else, cuz after all, it's her story, before putting it up here. And I've done just that! Jenn enjoyed the story and I hope you do too!

There once was a girl named Jennifer Robinson. She was from a far away land called Aloasia. She was, of course, the prettiest girl in the entire kingdom. But, you see, she has never had a lover, because she had a curse on her. Whenever a man would come within 5 feet of her, they would become violently ill. Jennifer liked to take walks through the town, so men had to be on the lookout for her so they wouldn’t get sick. Jennifer was getting older and was soon to take the throne, if she could find a man to marry. But because of the curse, no man would dare go near her.

One day, while Jennifer was just dancing, singing, and picking flowers for her parents out in the meadows that were just outside the city limits, a man suddenly approached her. Jennifer was stunned that the man was not getting sick as he came up to her, nor did she recognize him. Jennifer could have sworn that she knew all the subjects of the kingdom. He was such a gorgeous looking man, that she thought that it was too good to be true. He had beautiful brown hair, a great accent, and blue eyes that seemed to go on forever.

Jennifer began to get lost in her thoughts. “Excuse me. Excuse me Miss.” he repeated himself several times to get her attention. Jennifer snapped back to reality, “Oh! I’m so sorry! How can I help you?” “I am trying to find my way to Aloasia. Do you, perchance,know where it is?” the man asked. Jennifer gasped, “Yes, I do!” Jennifer had to calm herself before she could continue, “I am Jennifer Robinson, Princess of Aloasia. Where are you trying to go?” “Oh,” he breathed a sigh of relief, “I am trying to find the Good Shepherd Church of God. I have heard that they hold services there every Sunday and I wanted to go today. My name is Luke, by the way, Luke Damon. And I am from Krenasia, about 300 miles from here.” “Luke.” Jennifer said to herself. Now she knew why she didn’t recognize him. “Let me show you the way! My mother and father will be thrilled to have a newcomer.” Jennifer told him, as she started walking. Luke followed behind her, “Thank you so much. I have my own church back in Krenasia that I attend every Sunday, and have done so for all of my life. But for some reason, all of the sudden, I felt that God was calling me here. And at first, I didn’t think anything of it. But as the days went on, the call to come here was just too strong to ignore Him any longer and so here I am.” “Well, I am certainly glad that you are here.” Jennifer told him. Luke smiled, “You know, forgive me for being so blunt, but you are a very pretty girl. Surely you must have a lover.” “No,” Jennifer said, sadly, “You see, I have this curse. Whenever a man dares to come within five feet of me, they are suddenly ill. “Well, I feel great!” Luke assured her. “Well I guess that you are certainly different from all the rest!” Jennifer said.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, “What do you think about life?” Jennifer inquired. Luke answered, “I believe that life is too short to be serious one hundred percent of the time. You have take chances.” “Really?” Jennifer asked. “Yea, I mean, that’s what makes life so exciting.” he answered. “And music?” she asked. “Life wouldn’t be life. Music is a part of the soul. You cannot have one with out the other. Is there a reason for all these questions?” he asked, chuckling. “No…” Jennifer said, half-heartedly and smiling, and kept walking without looking back.

They arrived at the church. They walked up the stairs and as they were about enter the church; Luke grabbed her arm and pulled her back. “What are yo—?” Jennifer started to say, but Luke interrupted her, “I want to ask you something.” Jennifer was a little bit confused and could see her parents walking up. Luke took both of her hands into his and started to talk, “I think that it is fate that we met. I have never attended another church my whole life. God called me here for a reason. I think you are very beautiful. I don’t think it is just a coincidence that I just happen to not get sick around you as all other men have. I know we just met, but life is too short to not take a chance.” At this point, Luke started to go down on one knee. “What are you doing?” Jennifer asked, already knowing the answer. “With God and your parents as my witnesses, I ask you this now. Will you, Jennifer Robinson, marry me, Luke Damon?” he asked, looking up at her. He was hoping that even though they had just met, that she would say yes. As stunned as she and her parents were, she said yes before she could even think it. “Yes, Luke Damon, I will marry you!” Luke got up and threw his arms around her waist and she threw hers around his neck and they kissed.

Three months later, they were happily married. They succeeded Jennifer’s parents as Luke and Jennifer Damon, King and Queen of Aloasia. And most importantly….


they lived happily ever after.



THE END

Don't quit

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must-but don't you quit.

Life is queer with it's twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failures turn about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow-
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
it seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And when he learned too late,
when thenight slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out-
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt-
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick the fight when you're hardest hit-
It when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

brought to you by me, courtesy of Scandecor, Inc.
I.e. as awesome as this is...I didn't write it.

Murphy's Law

Murphy was an optimist.....

No good dead goes unpunished.
Leak proof seals-will.
Self starters-will not.
Interchangeable parts-will not.
There is always one more bug.
Nature is a mother.
Don't mess with Mrs. Murphy!
90% of everything is crud.
If you're feeling good, don't worry, you'll get over it.
All warranties expire upon payment of invoice.
Where you stand on an issue, depends on where you sit.
Never eat prunes when you're famished.
Friends come and go, but enemies accumulate.
If you try to please everybody, nobody will like it.
A short cut is the longest distance between two points.
You will always find something in the last place you look.
The chance of a piece of bread falling with the buttered side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.
No matter how long or hard you've shopped for an item after you've bought it, it will be on sale somewhere cheaper.
No one's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.
The other line always moves faster.
In order to get a loan, you must first prove you don't need it.
Anything you try to fix will take longer and cost you more than you thought.
If you fool around with a thing for very long you will screw it up.
A $300.00 picture tube will protect a 10 cent fuse by blowing first.
Any tool dropped while repairing a car will roll underneath to the exact center.
The repairman will never have seen a model quite like yours before.
When a broken appliance is demonstrated for the repairman, it will work perfectly.
A pipe gives a wise man time to think and a fool something to stick in his mouth.
Everybody should believe in something-I believe I'll have another drink.
Build a system that even a fool can use and only a fool will use.
Everyone has a scheme for getting rich that will never work.
In any heirarchy, each individual rises to his own level of incompetence, and then remains there.
You will remember that you forgot to take out the trash when the garbage truck is 2 doors away. The race is not always to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.
There's never time to do it right, but there's always time to do it over.
When in doubt, mumble. When in trouble, delegate.
Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral, or fattening.
It is morally wrong to to allow suckers to keep their money.
A bird in one hand is safer than the one overhead.
Murphy's Golden Rule: Whoever has the gold, makes the rules.
Everything east of the San Andreas Fault will eventually plunge into the Atlantic Ocean.
Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
The light at the end of the tunnel is the headlamp of oncoming traffic.
Celibacy is not hereditary.
Never sleep with anyone crazier than yourself.
Beauty is only skin deep, ugly goes to the bones.
To know yourself is the ultimate form of aggression. (Freudian psychology)
Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.
A Smith & Wesson beats four aces.
If everything seems to be going well, you obivously don't know what the heck is going on.
If more than one person is responsible for a miscalculation, no one will be at fault.
In case of doubt, make it sound convincing.
Never argue with a fool; People might not know the difference.

This was brought to you by me, courtesy of McGuire's Irish Pub of Destin, Florida. :D