On finals

I probably won't be posting much this week. I have finals to study for.
What am I doing right now????
I probably won't post until next year. I'm gonna be away over Christmas.
We'll see how it goes.
Have a very merry Christmas emphasis on the Christ part.
Also have a blessed New Year's.
If you want to be politically correct and say something like Season's Greeting's, you can just forget it. Call me if you want to hear the rant that goes with that one.
Ta ta for now!

On "way to be depressing"

I apologize in advance for the state of this post. I'm pretty blue.
Do you ever have those times when you wonder how in the heck the world is still spinning on its axis? Because your thoughts are so preoccupied with one or two particular things, there's no possible way for life to continue as normal for anyone. I'm kind of feeling that way right now. If you've never had a slightly surreal experience then perhaps you're blessed. Sorry that you don't know what I'm taking about.
I felt like this two years ago after the tornado. since it was in my backyard, I was really affected by it. When I went back to school for the first time a couple days later, I was shocked and upset that not everyone was as shaken by the event as I was. Life went on. And right now, my life continues to go on, as you can probably tell, if not I bet I'd have trouble typing this! Anyway, I still had to make up that math quiz and my mom is still gonna make me take out the garbage or whatever, but the weird feeling won't go away.
There's not one factor, I don't think. This state of sadness has been coming on for awhile actually, I just was too caught up in being happy, happy, happy for so long that I didn't realize. Well, like they say, what would be special about happiness if you had it all the time. I'm still very much joyful (I really enjoyed that horrendous use of grammar) and I can still find ways to put a smile on my face during the day... even if it is a little bit harder than normal.
I guess it's like in Ezekiel, when it he explains about the useless vine. If the vine is not bearing fruit when it is perfect and whole, how much less will it be useful when it's burning and charred?
I kind of relate that to my life, even if that's not what it really means. My interpretation: if I can't be moving and working and doing good for the Kingdom when life is good and I'm feeling great, how lazy and useless am I going to be when life sucks and I feel like crap? I try to be useful all the time.
So anyway, sorry for straying from my typical "happy go lucky" yammering, but I needed to write and I just wasn't feeling the whole amusing thing. It may very well be the weather.
If you've made it to this point (I totally stole that from Megan Miller's really long e-mail) thanks for reading. I don't need sympathy cards or anything, my youthful enthusiasm hasn't really died, I think it just took a siesta for today.
Have a nice Thursday.

On Hooray!

Today is Friday and I decided to dress all comfy-like. I wore my Strawberry Shortcake footie socks to school. They are very fun. They actually have little grippies on the bottom so I don't slip as I'm toddling about. Okay, so I haven't really toddled for many, many years, but the phrase works well with my whole not growing up thing. Hooray fro Strawberry Shortcake footie socks.
A piece of exciting news:
The Walgreen's guy actually did eat his 'have a good day' gum! I talked to my mom on her cell phone on Wednesday while she was there and he told her he ate it! Now I can take back all that Scrooge bah-humbug nonsense. Hooray that the Walgreen's guy ate his gum!
Today at school we talked about the Middle Ages and the Roman Catholic Church. This led to a discussion about nuns which was of course big fun. Ha ha, nuns. I apologize if you are reading this and have no idea why that's funny. Hooray for nuns and whatnot.
So, apparently my grandpa e-mailed this link to practically everyone in our extended family. Great, I have always been careful about what I write because I know God is watching, but now that this blog will be under the scrutiny of my family, I'll have to be even more cautious. Just messing.
And finally, hooray for making faces at Michael across the Speech classroom while we're supposed to be watching a movie!
Have an enjoyable day!!!

On Mini Adventures

Big adventures are cool, I mean they make great novels and shape peoples' lives I suppose, but I am more inclined to enjoy life's mini adventures. On Saturday, I went to Bloomington with Castle's French Club. While there, we had dinner at a French restaurant. I ate a snail. I was all doctored up and everything, so technically it was escargot, but it was a stinking snail nonetheless. I doubt that I will ever do that again, when I eat. I'm weird about textures (no jello or oatmeal for me!) and eating a snail was basically the equivalent of chewing on a deflated balloon. Not especially pleasant, however as from every experience, some good came out of it. Now, I feel very empowered, as though I can do anything. No task is too great for the girl who ate a snail, no way. It's actually kind of exciting.
Now, yesterday was another day for a mini adventure. I probably laughed more yesterday than i ever have in my life. Megan, Lydia, and I took a little field trip to Walgreen's. If you read my post a couple months ago, you know how much fun I can have there (my princess mittens etc). Anyway, at Walgreen's they have card that sing to you when they are opened. We had a little dance party in the card aisle, many people stared. Walking on Sunshine, Going to the Chapel, Can't Touch This, and Walk the Line, we played them all and danced, sang, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. One card left them all behind though. The little voices that erupted out of the card, laughing and saying the most hilarious things made my day. We bought that particular card and took it to church with us blessing everyone's day with the wittiness of the little people inside the card. When we were checking out, I gave the guy who works at Walgreen's a piece of "have a good day gum," but he said he was throwing it away. Hmmm. I have decided to nickname him Scrooge, bah-humbug.
So that's that on mini adventures. I would definitely recommend them, if that's not something you are currently doing. Something I really want to do this season is go Christmas caroling to different stores in the middle of the night and sing to the bored people who work there. Is that allowed? I hope so. I would where a Santa hat. Okay, I think you've had quite enough. It is perhaps time for me to be done.
Happy Monday!!!

On more, More, MORE!

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth,"


It may not be much, but the song still asks for something.


Everyone is in need of something, whether they realize it or not. In the book I'm reading with my small group, "Wired", by Louie Giglio, it is explained that all of humanity was created as beings who worship. Now, we were really created to be worshipping God, but that's not always the way it works out. Today there are so many false idols that we give our worship to that often times we only have a smidge left for God. In the book, Giglio (I really hope he's got a son, or grandson, I don't know how old he is, who I can marry, because that might be the coolest last name I've ever heard) says that worship is our response to what we value most. Watching the clock waiting for the new episode of Heroes to come on and never missing the show says that Heroes is valuable to you, you're worshipping it. What I think is a pretty huge thing, especially in say my youth group, is that people get caught up in worshipping other people rather than God. Even if someone may seem extremely good and full of God, they're not God and are not worthy of our worship. I've been observing this people worship in that it seems many people only come to the youth group events for the socialization they provide. Now, fellowship is very important, but they came a point for me when I had to reevaluate what my time revolved around. Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about worship lately, and I think I can kind of add to Giglio's definition. We worship the things we want more of. The most sincere worshippers that I've seen and met are those who really seem to be longing for God. Which, that's been his plan for us all along hasn't it? To long for him, to realize that we are incapable without him, partial, inept (ooo I bet that one raised my blog level to genius). So basically, what I'm getting at is that as of late, even though I still struggle with giving my worship solely to God, I've have come to a greater understanding of what it is to long for God. To want more of Him. More, and More, and MORE! I don't know, it's basically just that I can't wait to get to actually see Him, you know? To actually stand in His presence and everything ,how it will be so amazing and terrifying at the same time. I can kind of get a better picture of where Paul was at in his life when he said "to die is gain," sorry that that sounds kind of morbid. How can I wrap this up? I don't know. I just thought I'd share what's been on my heart lately. Worship is so, so important, and I am trying my best to give it all to the One who deserves it.
Sorry that this blog is so stinking long. Now, I will copy off of a few people I've seen and put song lyrics in my blog. I just think Chris Rice expresses the feeling very well.

Here it is...

How far are You?
How close am I?
I know Your words are true when I don't feel them inside
Still I believe You'll never leave
So where are You now?
You're all I have
You're all I've known
Your breath is breathing in my soul
Still I am gasping, aching, asking,
Where are you now?'
Cause I just want to be with You
I dream about Your promise to return
I just want this waiting to be over
And I wake up hangin' on Your every word
I just want to be with You
For now my feet are planted here on earth
And it helps to know the Day is getting closer
And it helps to know the day is getting closer
But every minute takes and hour
Every inch feels like a mile
Till I won't have to imagine
And I finally get to see You smile!
My journey's here, but my heart is There
So I dream and wait, and keep the faith, while You prepare
Our destiny, till You come back for me
Oh, please make it soon!

On my Uglydoll

On Thanksgiving we celebrated Christmas with my dad's side of the family. We weren't going to be able to see my grandparents (Gram and Grump --yeah that's really what we call him, I made it up) during Christmas, so we had it early. This was totally fine by me of course, I mean I'm not even done with my birthday yet. So, I got this little stuffed creature from my aunt. Her name is Anne, we call her Auntie Anne, I'm not even kidding. I was so happy to get my Uglydoll. Seriously, that's the brand name on the label--UglyDoll. My aunt has one and she remembered how last year I was admiring hers so much. This little truly hideous doll is like on of my favorite gifts ever. The new picture I put up is of me and my Uglydoll, if you couldn't tell. Yeah, I get a little too excited about things like that. Oh well, that's about all I have to report about the Thanksgiving holiday. I did get two battle wounds, I get pretty pumped about showing off my scars and telling of my dangerous adventures.

One. My dad's brother, Bo, has four sons. They like to wrestle. I was being attacked by a few of these cousins and I think my brother, which was no big deal except the youngest cousin, Ryan he's 3, decided to bring along a matchbox car. I had a little lump on my face, between my eyebrows for a little while and I am sporting a fabulous cut on my nose. Of course there are no hard feelings towards Ryan, the scar makes my vacation seem interesting.

Two. In the car on the way home, the vent above my seat in the car attacked my hand. The pointer finger on my right hand really hurts, I can't wear my ring. OK, so that one wasn't at all glamorous, exciting, or interesting, I apologize for wasting your time. Hey, but at least I had your attention for a minute, because you were pitying me. I'm just kidding, I'm not pretending to be abused or infirm. I just thought you'd like to know what events I'll remember from my trip.

On Someday

If you think about it:
Today, is yesterday's tomorrow and tomorrow, today will be yesterday. So, we are really living in a yesterday, a today, and a tomorrow.
Hooray! I'm a poet.
Here is something I wrote short while ago.

Her smile is big. Her teeth shine as brilliant white in the celestial glow. Her radiance comes from the joy she feels, a joy so complete and overwhelming, it cannot compare to anything she has ever felt before. Though she wears no makeup, her cheeks glows as though kissed by the loveliest pink rose.
The Princess.
While she awaits her knight, knowing he is soon to come riding on his white horse, she wears her white gown and skips merrily. The dress is the purest most beautiful white, in representation of the new cleanliness of her heart. White petals fall lightly to the ground from the wreath on her head as she dances about. She is unable to contain her happiness, her bare feet trip over each other during her childlike celebration.
She wears her hair loose in long ringlets down her back like she did when she was a little girl. In her hands, she carries a bouquet of white dandelions, her favorite, but they are not separated by the wind, but remain connected as if in a dream. But this is no dream, she knows it cannot be. This is more rare and perfect and beautiful than any dream she's ever had.
She twirls in circles, lifting her hands above her head, delighting, rejoicing in the glorious light. While turning, she gets her first glimpse of him. He is quietly ascending the hill, strong and sure-footed. One look into his all-seeing eyes and she knows it's him
The Prince (Jesus)
He is the one she's been waiting for. The passion of her heart. She sees him and knows the time has come; tears of unsurpassed joy well in her eyes. She has waited so long to see his face. She runs to him, a wild undignified canter.
He sees her and laughs; he can't help but beam at her sheer enthusiasm and excitement. He is so glad she is his princess; he so delights in her. With his eyes, he takes in her human form and all her physical imperfections, but all his heart sees is beauty.
He takes her hand gently, and together they walk through the garden. Neither needs to speak, he knows exactly what she is thinking, and she knows he loves her. This is all she ever need know. They gaze contentedly at the blooming flowers and magnificent trees, and listen to the whistling birds. Both he and she have yet to stop smiling. He kisses her on the cheek; it is a perfect, holy kiss. This is a kiss not of worldly love, but of pure, spiritual love.
He leads her out of the garden gate and down the lane. It is time for the ceremony. All the angels are there, they have been awaiting the prince and princess. They have become the bridegroom and bride.
The Wedding
It is the most exciting, glorious celebration ever. There has never been a more perfect, happy wedding. The best part is that the Father is there. It has been his greatest desire to complete the joy of his daughter. He is beyond thrilled to see his princess smile and laugh as she dances with her life's love. She is finally with them, the Son and the Father. She has waited for so long! Together, the prince and princess blow on the bundle of dandelions, scattering the white seeds, getting some in their hair.
The Ascension
The Father embraces his princess in an affectionate, paternal hug. Then he sends the daughter off with her prince. The two go again into the garden, where he sends her flying high on the wooded swing. In the air, she laughs and sings joyously, thinking she may soon reach the clouds if she goes any higher. And then, she does. Together the prince and princess ascend into the sky.
Once there, she takes her place amongst all the singing, dancing, worshipping princesses. Now she knows she can live forever with the prince and the father. This is her beautiful eternity.

On the Mystery Dinner

It was FANTASTIC . . . enough said.

On M&Ms

I decided that I like this color a lot. Anyway, yesterday I ate a handful of M&Ms and I had a really scary thought. I really like M&Ms a lot. I wondered how many M&Ms the average person must consume in their lifetime. Well, because it's such a huge thing in America, I'm guessing the number is big. Now, I really, really like M&Ms so if anyone ever finds a number for me it would be double. The frightening thought was: What if when I got to heaven, God asked me about all those M&Ms? Just like how in James it says that you're going to have to account for every stray word that you speak, what if you were asked about your M&m consumption? I know it's definitely not a good thing, but I've been torturing myself with this one. Here is how the conversation would go:
GOD: Now Lindsey, do you know how many M&Ms you ate while you lived on earth?
Me: Um, no not really, sorry.
GOD: Well, it was actually quite a lot. You ate (insert a very large number here) M&Ms.
Me: Oh my. That is a lot of M&Ms. Where exactly are we going with this?
GOD: Well Lindsey, do you know how many times you opened and read your Bible during that time?
Me: No. I really didn't keep track of that either.
GOD: I'll give you a hint. . . the M&M number was bigger.
Me: Rats.
Yeah, even though I seriously doubt that that's how it will go when I meet the big guy, it's still something to think about. I really should crave God's word more than I crave M&Ms or anything else. It's really important. Even though I feel a little bit dumb, worrying about how God feels about my eating lots and lots of M&Ms, it's a pretty good motivator. Now that I have this vision of being grilled about candy while in heaven, I can really make reading God's Word a major priority in my life again. This may be a strange way to be convicted, but God knows what he's doing apparently.

On tangible joy

Even though sometimes things don't go quite as I had planned, I've learned to accept them and move on. I feel this is a very important thing to do in life, because wallowing forever in regret, self pity, or whatever is just stupid. No matter what happens in my life, there is one thing that is always readily available to me: The Joy of the Lord. In truth, I haven't been really down in a long time. Now, there are definitely some days that are better than others, because then great days wouldn't be special, but honestly, I've learned to enjoy life. I've officially come to the conclusion that it is a good thing. What I find is completely amazing is that God gives us joy to have here and now and it can be incredible, but it doesn't even come close to comparing with the joy we'll experience someday when we get to heaven. I think that's so cool. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like, but I'm excited and so hopeful. It's the hope that not only gets me through, but allows me to enjoy a day. I mean, I have to have faith, because if God's seen me through sixteen years of my life, why should I expect for him to let me down? I know he's always going to be there taking care of me. For example, almost exactly two years ago, there was a big tornado in my backyard. My house is still where it was then. We lost a window, a few shingles and twenty-six trees. We live in a 150 year old house. When we woke up and saw the storm, we ran down the stairs over the broken glass from the window. There were no cuts. God took care of my family and me that night, so how could I possibly doubt him? This faith, knowing that He always has my back is what makes my days joyous. With my life revolving around Christ, no matter what happens, I win. If I keep living a long life, I live with the joy, love, and peace of God. If I die, well then I get to go be with Jesus, hooray, duh. This is just what was on my mind. Wow. I can be really long winded, but this is one of the ways I give thanks. I just feel that with so much joy, I have no right to just keep it inside. I want to carry it in a basket (because it's so real and cool that it's like it's tangible) and sprinkle it on people. Wouldn't that be neat? My new ambition: I want to be the Johnny Appleseed of Joy.

On my wonderful little brother

Nothing tastes sweeter than slimy sticky slobbery raisins offered from a slimy sticky slobbery five year old hand. I discovered this today. If you hadn't already guessed, today I am thanking God for my little brother. He is the baby of the family, and the only boy, sometimes I feel bad for him. He has this amazing ability to make my day so much better. I love him very very much. Tonight, while we were eating dinner, he just randomly started talking about this dream he had. It was something about being two years old and playing with his cars in the toilet. I don't even know, but I started laughing so hard I had to get up and leave the table and go in the other room while he finished his story. Then, later he was playing with a fake plastic guitar and showed us how he could "play" and slide on his knees. It was pretty stinking adorable. I'm so glad that I have him in my life as an example and reminder of what it is to be young, simple, carefree and innocent. I hope I always remember these times and how is so funny. I wish people could always be just themselves like they are when they're little kids.

On adventures at Walgreens

Alrighty, so my mom and I just got back from one of our frequent late-night trips to Walgreen's and I just had to write about it.
We only set out to buy one thing and pick up some medicine, but it turned into so much more. On our way to the back of the store, we stopped and looked at mittens and gloves. After much whining and begging, Mom agreed to buy me the Princess mittens, yeah. Then, I noticed something in the mittens that wasn't mittens. It was plastic and funny looking; I thought it was a baby toy... it wasn't.
I picked the thing up and pushed the button reading "Try Me". It turns out the thing was a stinking hand massager! So, as I'm standing there, the thing begins shaking and vibrating like crazy. I let out a very undignified yelp and dropped it back in with the mittens.
After this, much mocking ensued from my mother, of course. So, while she is buying the medicine and paying for our other things, Mom takes it upon herself to tell the nice old man behind the counter about my new found fear of hand massagers. This, to be fair, was said to explain why when I saw an entire BOX FULL OF THEM, I whimpered and hid behind my mom. So, we got several laughs out of the people in the pharmacy section at Walgreen's.
Then, oh yes, it gets better, as we are walking back to the front of the store, Mom saw the Halloween candy. It was on sale, of course. Huge Twizzlers that are about as long as I am tall, caramels for 32 cents a bag, Russel Stover's chocolate ghosts. We loaded up and also decided to get some hairspray. Soon we were walking up to the checkout and Mom's arms were loaded with all we chose to bought and our small grocery bag from our first attempt.
While the friendly cashier is ringing up our items, Mom is telling him all about the Women's Fall Retreat that she just came from, she even took off her jacket and turned around so he could read the scripture verse on the back. When Mom realized that the caramels were really only 32 cents a bag, she sent me scurrying off to get more bags, because apparently there are many many recipes that involve caramels, err. So, we are about ready to pay when I remember that one of the main reasons we came to Walgreen's in the first place was to get a newspaper, so I pick that up only to learn that my mom has another mission for me. She wants more bags of Mixed Mini candy bars. Much to the amusement of the cashier, I trudged back once again to the candy aisle.
When I returned from my journey, Mom and I got into an in depth conversation with the man about how I felt about my own mother disliking me, this came from our banter("Go get me more of these!" "Why?" "Because I don't like you that's why, go!"). She then explained that she indeed loved me, she just didn't like me. So, when the guy rung up our purchases, my mom decided she really needed the cherry Carmax that was by the counter, so he added that on too.
Needless to say, we were there for forever. I'm just glad that we were able to add some amusement to those men and women who work the night shift at Walgreen's, because I imagine it can get pretty boring. Maybe that is my true calling. I shall spend my days, going to different places of business late at night to entertain the people that work there. This is how I will share Jesus with the world! Okay, see this is what happens when I'm in desperate need of sleep.
Okay, one more thing before I say good night: In this newspaper that I bought, there was a story about a dentist who was being sued for messing up this lady's face because he was dancing to "Car Wash" while he drilled in her mouth. Also some eight-year-old boys invented wedgie-proof underwear. I think that that is too cool.
Massagers are scary.
Good night.

On bookstores

I have decided that one day, when and more importantly if I get older, I am going to live in a bookstore for one whole year. I think that would be amazing. I love reading and the smell of books and coffee, so could there possibly be a more enjoyable place to live? The only place that I can think of is heaven, but seeing as I'm alive, a bookstore will have to suffice. All of this comes from my trip to Barnes and Noble that I took with my dad yesterday. I just felt so incredibly content. I couldn't help but smile as I rode the escalator, clutching my Starbucks hot chocolate, smelling the books. I love books, I really do. So, I'll be sure to let you all know when I make the change in address, although I don't suppose they'd appreciate it too much if you mailed me things there. Who is they? What kind of bookstore is going to allow me to live there for a year? No kind I guess. New idea: I will open my own bookstore and then live in it. It's brilliant! Problem solved. Hooray.
New Revelation: When you don't like coffee, it makes it a lot easier to decide what to get at Starbucks.

On learning interesting things

Yesterday I learned something really cool and interesting. I was on my way home from an orthodontist appointment, (I know, gripping beginning right?) and my mom rolled down the windows. The wind was blowing really hard (I like wind) (I like parentheses too ha ha) and I stuck my arm out the window, it felt good. Now, I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt, and the cool air went all the way down my sleeve and into my armpit, where it felt very strange. My reaction to this strange occurrence made both my mother and my sister crack up laughing at me. This is what I learned: apparently when it is windy and you stick your arm out the window, the air will rush into your sleeve and up your arm. Actually, once you get past the shock, it's kind of cool. So, I rode the rest of the way home with my arm out the window laughing all the way. Yep, this is me people, I'm sixteen years old and living it up.

Another window into my ultra-glamorous life:
Today, in my math class, we played Halloween Bingo. We used Smarties as our markers. The kid who sits across from me, Seth, made fun of me for arranging my Smarties according to color. I told him I was OCD and to deal with it. Henceforth I have decided that all of my faults shall be blamed upon my being OCD, even though no doctor has proclaimed me to be such. I have way too much fun writing these things.
Also, about thirty minutes ago, I found a leaf in my church's parking lot, (I like leaves) and I picked it up and brought it home with me. It just seemed so perfect, so whole and unblemished. I'm glad we have fall and I'm glad we have leaves. So, today I say, "thank you God for the fall and the leaves, and thank you for letting me learn about wind and armpits."
Did you like the picture? I made it myself. "I'm a big kid now." (in song--if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's probably because you have a life)

On 3 comments

So, I'm thinking it's pretty stinking cool that on all my posts, it says "3 comments". That means it's all even, yeah. If you didn't already know, I'm OCD and I like for things to be even and in order and stuff. Now that you know that, you'll probably use it against me like everybody else, oh well. Ha ha I'm doing that thing again where I make people feel bad for me on purpose. Did you feel bad for me just then? If not, you're a terrible person who has no heart. If you did, don't because the only thing that's pathetic about me is that I tried to make you feel bad for me in the first place. I should really quit that. Conviction! If I'm not making any sense, then welcome to my world. Actually, ever since we talked about doing stuff to get attention on that one Wednesday night, I've been very observant about the things people, including me, do to get attention. I used to think it was a problem other people had, you know middle child syndrome but I realized that I can be guilty of it sometimes too. So know I can take the plank out of my eye yeah! Isn't it amazing the way the Holy Spirit can work in your life? It's so cool how every day God's making me more like the person I'm supposed to be forever. Wow, I totally got away from the whole 3 comments thing, oh well.

On rainy days

Hooray for rainy days!! I think that dark, rainy days are truly super blessings from God. One, because the rain nourishes the earth, and two, because they make people appreciate nice sunny days more. I mean a beautiful sunrise is even more special if you don't get to experience it every morning. Today, my journalism teacher informed me that there is an actually psychological disorder that causes people to behave differently when the sun is not shining. Pretty weird huh? She said some people even have special lighting in their homes to imitate the sunlight, so they don't become sick. I thought that was pretty interesting. So, today I thank God for the rain and the cold weather. I love fall and winter! Today, when I got off the bus after school, I could see my breath yeah! I'm so excited about the cold. One of the best feelings in the world to me is being cold, than warming up with a cup of hot chocolate, a sweater, a blanket, and a bowl of tomato soup. Eww, that sounded gross. No, I don't eat tomato soup and drink hot chocolate at the same time that would be nasty. oh, by the way, I ate two marshmallows(why is it spelled marshmallow when we actually say marshmellow) while I typed this blog. Just thought you'd like to know.

On being blessed

I think it's pretty incredible that I am so completely blessed. Sometimes it's good to stop and take a minute and I know it's cliche, but count your blessings. I thought about this today as I was folding laundry with my mom. (There you go, a window into my glamorous life.) I was folding my dad's socks and my mom told me to put them into two separate piles, capital letters and lowercase letters (they say "Hanes" on them). As I sorted his socks, I thought, Wow, this would be crazy to so many people in this world. I mean, my family is blessed enough that my dad has two different kinds of socks. And not just one pair of each, no, he has a lot of socks. I bet homeless people don't care whether both of their socks have capital letters or not; they'd probably just fee lucky to have socks. Now I realize how silly I am sometimes, worrying about things. Obviously God is taking care of me and he's going to continue to do so. Okay so now I'm sitting here laughing at how weird I am. I guess it's just that I need to get a life. I mean I doubt many people sit at home thinking about the lettering on socks. I suppose I get the weirdness from my mom who is OCD enough to want the socks separated into capital and lowercase letter piles in the first place. Hmmmm. Well, the only thing I'm for sure of is this: From now on, if someone mentions "counting my blessings" to me, I'm going to remember my dad's socks.
Hooray for advice: Start paying attention to the little things in life. It may cause you to come to realizations.
Ha ha. Like anyone is going to take the advice of a girl who just wrote for twenty minutes about socks. :)

On reading the newspaper

I'm supposed to read the newspaper 15 minutes a day for my journalism class at school. Right. Anyway today I actually did it and I read a news brief and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Apparently, some artist in New York sculpted a giant Jesus out of chocolate. Now my guess is that this wasn't some unique act of worship, but I suppose it may have been. I don't know. Well anyway, this guy was supposed to display this thing last year, but he couldn't because some Catholics got really upset, because it was during Easter time. Now in the grand scheme of things, I guess how I feel about this guy's "artwork" isn't really going to affect anything; however, I at least need to know how I feel about it. While reading I was torn between wanting to laugh out loud and becoming very angry. On the one hand, I think it's kind of disrespectful. Although it is kind of amusing to me, like something out of the twilight zone, because of the conversation Hannah and I had at church a while ago.

STORY!! In big church, pastor Brad was talking about how some people crave chocolate, and how we should be craving Jesus instead. I wrote to Hannah on my program, "Is it wrong to crave a chocolate covered Jesus?" I was totally kidding. She laughed out loud and we kept joking about a chocolate Jesus the rest of the day.

You don't have to tell me, I know. It's pretty weird. I guess I'm psychic...no not really.

Also in today's paper was a story about a polygamist in the Middle East. If you haven't heard my rant about polygamy, I'll paraphrase it for you: It's gross. It's stupid. Those people are gross. Those people are stupid. How can anybody think that's okay?

Anyway, this guy as eight wives and like sixty some odd kids.

See, this is why I don't read the paper.

On prayer, P.S, smiley gum, and flowers

Today was supposed to be pink day, but pink really isn't a color choice now is it? Rats. Did you know that when the little clasp thing on your necklace moves around, so it isn't behind your neck anymore, that you're supposed to make a wish? Me either. Well, now I do because my grandma told me the other day. I though Wow my necklace gets messed up all the time... that's a lot of wishes I could have wished but didn't. Okay, so really making wishes at dumb times is stupid, but here is what I'm actually getting at:

I think we miss a lot of opportunities to wish, rather ask for things. I know in my life, there are a lot of things that I should probably pray about, but I don't. Why not? I don't know. It really is silly, because there is really nothing too small for God to pay attention to. So, I've decided that no matter insignificant something may seem, if a worry crosses my mind, I'm going to take it to God.

Like this morning. I got ready for school and checked the temperature- a beautiful 60 degrees again, another nice day. I walked outside like I always do to catch the bus at the end of my driveway. I noticed how pretty the sun was coming up. Yeah, I thought, God, thank you for the sunrise. Then I saw the bus. The bus that was not stopping at my driveway, but driving on past my house and down the road. Oh no. Well, lots of buses do pass my house in the morning, maybe that one wasn't mine, I couldn't see the numbers. usually I have time to enjoy the morning for a couple minutes before it arrives. So, I waited, to see if my bus would come for me, or if that had been my bus that drove away. And I decided to go ahead and pray about it. I did. I prayed that that really hadn't been my bus driving by, that my bus was on its way. Then feeling a little foolish I prayed that even if that had been my bus that maybe God could give me a do-over and let me get on it this time so my mom wouldn't have to get up to drive me. And you know what? My bus came and I got on it and went to school. Yeah, I feel like a dork that I got so excited about that but, hey it was an answered prayer.


Alrighty, so now I have a P.S. to yesterday's giant thank you note. Thanks to Marc for being gullible enough to let me get you with a marshmallow, again. Okay sorry STORY!!! Here is how it went:
Me: My marshmallow smells funny.
Dad: It's just the smoke and fire. Eat it.
Me: No it's weird. (wink wink at dad) Smell it.
Dad: (smells it) Hmmm. I don't know.
Me: Here Marc, you smell it.
Marc: Okay
Then as he smells it, I shove the marshmallow forcefully at his face, getting it all over him. he he I win big time.
And thanks to Sarah for my soon to be finished ukulele! (STARGIRL PLAYED THE UKULELE!) I am way too excited for my own good? Wait. is that possible? Oh well, I'm super excited.


Hooray for "have a good day" gum! For my birthday, Emmy gave me a jar full of yellow gumballs whose wrappers have smiley faces on them. She said that they were for me to give to people when I told them to have a good day (I tell people to have a good day a lot). i brought a bag of them with me to school today and I had SO MUCH FUN!!! I wish I had enough "have a good day" gum so that I could give one to everybody at my school everyday. It would be fun to just walk through the halls and smile and hand gum to every person I saw. If I were the ruler of the school, I would make all the teachers keep jars of "have a good day" gum on their desks and whenever they had a student who was looking kind of sad, they would give them a piece. In fact, when I become a teacher, I'm going to do that. I'm going to keep stores and stores of "have a good day" gum for anyone who wasn't having a good day. That way even if they felt overwhelmed and bogged down by school like I do sometimes, they could a least have something to smile about.

Hooray for flowers! Yesterday at church spontaneously, Megan and I walked around the parking lot for a long time and picked flowers, well weeds really but I bet it hurts their feelings when people call them that so I call them flowers and we talked. It was quite enjoyable. I love flowers, especially white dandelions. My grandpa planted flowers, mums, around my tree. My dad and grandpa spent the whole day Saturday planting my weeping cherry tree. They planted three mums and built bricks in a circle around it. Now I smile every time I look at it. When Emmy was here yesterday, I commented that the whole thing kind of looks like a memorial, you know, like I died or something. My mom laughed and brought out this funny cross thing she had and put it in front of the tree. Really, it looks super. Today, I told her that I wanted to leave the cross there, that I liked it. So now it's official, even if I don't become famous, they've built a Lindsey Memorial.

On being thankful for friends

I just had my sixteenth birthday, and today my fingers itched like they always do when I know I need to write. I've been thinking about how much fun I had on Friday, (my birthday) when everyone came out to the house to celebrate with me. I'm horrible about writing thank you notes, horrible in the sense that I just don't do it. But today I really wanted to write thank you notes. If I did write thank you notes, I would write them my own way. Some of them would thank people for their thoughtful gifts, but some would just thank people for being who they are. After the party, my dad made a comment to me about my friends and how they are all really great. I must say that I definitely agree. So, even if in the following, I don't mention you by name, thank you anyway. Thanks to those who were there on my birthday... and thanks even to those who weren't for just being in my life. OK, here it goes:
Thanks to my parents for letting me have my friends over.
Thanks to Katy and Devon for being my friends and standing by me for so long.
Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for surprising me by coming down from Michigan on my special day.
Thanks to Logan for my song, because that was one of the things on my birthday wish list. Wait!!! Story: My parents had been repeatedly asking me what I wanted for my birthday. I told them I wanted a pet fish and a tree to plant in the back yard. They just didn't seem to think this was good enough, so they kept asking me to think of more things. Then, my mom and I found the video online from the Guatemala trip with Logan playing his ukulele and singing the song he wrote about Kyle. It made me laugh so hard I cried. So, the next time my parents asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I simply told them that I wanted a fish, a tree, and a song written by Logan and that was it. They complained saying that they had no control over whether Logan wrote me a song or not. I just laughed and smiled, knowing full well that I'd be happy with whatever they really chose to get me, but not telling them this. Then, it turned out that I really did get my fish, (who by the way, I will be naming Leo, when I finally pick him out), my tree, (it's a weeping cherry), and my mom wound up asking Logan to write me a song for my birthday. Therefore, I am spoiled and happy and very thankful for Logan and his creativity. It's definitely on the list of 'best gifts ever'.
Thanks to Drew for playing your guitar during Logan's song and for telling me HAPPY BIRTHDAY over and over again.
Thanks to Beth Swango for your kind and touching words, they really meant a lot. Geez. You almost made me cry on my birthday!
Thanks to Sarah and Alexis and Emmy for always being there for me and being amazing friends. Much love.
Thanks to Sean for the thought put into the sunflowers and star-cookies, which are very tasty by the way.
Thanks to Brian for assuring me that I'm "kind of in-between"...I'll take it.
Thanks to Jaymen for dancing with me while we played island tag, you're always making me laugh.
Thanks to Eric for keeping me humble by obliterating me in red rover. Seriously, don't feel bad, my foot will be fine someday :)
Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to know me well enough to know that all I needed for my birthday was candy and reading material. Oh! And I almost forgot the SINGING CARDS!!!!! They are amazing and had nobody been watching, I probably would have sat there opening and closing them as fast as I could until the batteries died.
Now last but not least, Thanks most of all to GOD for blessing me with this plethora of awesome friends whom I love very much.

So, my 16th birthday was all that I dreamed it would be and more. The only thing that could have ended the day better would have been dancing and singing in a gazebo with a blond Austrian, like in Sound of Music but that's okay, there's still time. I'll be sixteen going on seventeen for a whole year, ha ha.