Christmas Time Is Here

"And he puzzled and puzzed, till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!

'Maybe Christmas,' he thought, 'doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.'"

- Narrator, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Well I managed to fail my once a week blog already, but let me just say that my work and sleep schedule recently hasn't been the best, especially if you add a gruesome sinus infection into the mix.  Regardless I'm here to let you know that I accomplished all of my Christmas shopping, with the exception of one person today, and plan to get the remaining stocking stuffers, etc., tomorrow morning before the last minute crowds get too big.

I'm looking forward to the holiday as odd as that seems (to me at least).  My mom, aunt, sister-in-law, and niece will be driving over on Sunday after church to have a "small" Christmas feast with myself and Mallory, then Denise will be joining us later in the evening.  I can't wait to hop back in the kitchen to make some bacon mac 'n cheese (inspired by one of the meals from my cruise last month).

Now, in an effort to get a head start on one of my New Years Resolutions (which will be posted in a blog next week [I promise]) I plan on reading through the nativity story from the account of Luke tomorrow night before bed.  Luke just has that little something special that I feel Matthew left out in his account of the Gospels.  Forget reading the Night Before Christmas, let's remember what this season is about...and it's not gifts or food.  Jesus is the reason for the season.

I probably won't post again before Christmas, so Merry Christmas, dear readers, and I will see you again before 2012 knocks on your door.

My favorite Christmas song:

The cute Christmas video:

The funny adult Christmas scenario:

http://FunnyOrDie.com/m/6dxd

So this is Christmas...

 George: What is it you want, Mary?  What do you want?  You want the moon?  Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.  Hey.  That's a pretty good idea.  I'll give you the moon, Mary.

Mary:  I'll take it.  Then what?

George:  Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve see...and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair...am I talking too much?

- It's A Wonderful Life

Like  most people who are blogging right now, I will make the statement that America, and the world, already knows. It's December, which means Christmas!  Now that that's out of the way, I'd like to say I'm sorry for my lack of blogging over the past month or so...I've had bad case of writers block recently.

Things have been going well though!  Mallory has moved back to Tallahassee and back into McCartney Motel.  I had a relaxing Thanksgiving spent in the Bahamas (Freeport, Nassua, and Half Moon Cay to be exact and photos/additional blog to come soon).  I can't remember the last time I was this excited for Christmas either...maybe it's because all I've done for the past month is Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) giving me TONS of ideas for decorations, etc.

I also know I haven't blogged about this, out of respect for Adam and Crystal, but after a month and a half of them being in Tampa with Kaylee after a tragic family accident, they are back in Tallahassee.  It's so wonderful to see them again and to watch as Kaylee continues to grow and improve daily.  We're all also excited because little Levi is due to come in the next 3 weeks! (Who doesn't love babies?!)

Chelsea moves out in about 2 weeks :( but the good news is she'll be graduating with her lovely degree in French (yay graduation!).  I'm sad because she's been a wonderful friend/roommate and has been responsible for teaching me new music (She & Him) and starting my John Cusack movie obsession/collection.  This means however that I get a fresh start in a new room in the house, as I'll be moving into her bedroom so Mallory can retake claim on her old room.  In the 47 years since the house was built, I will be the only person to ever live in all 3 bedrooms (holla for setting a record).

Before Thanksgiving, Samantha, Mallory, and myself started a routine of cooking dinner together and walking 2 miles every night, only allowing ourselves one "skip" per week in an effort to lose weight and save money.  Since returning from Thanksgiving break, we've continued the meals, but slacked on the walking, which I'm hoping to start up again soon.

I've also been slacking in my Bible reading, which started in the middle of October after I finished Genesis.  I will definitely be starting that up again soon, in the book of John, as well as starting my texting chain again to ensure others have been keeping up with their readings also.  I still think it's strange that for a habit to stick it takes 21 days and I had done two and half months of nightly reading that went out the window in a day.  Apparently I'm the exception to the rule there...but who knows.

Now for Christmasy things!  The quote above is from one of my favorite Christmas movies, It's A Wonderful Life.  This movie helps you feel love, pain, joy, sorrow, and of course, the Christmas spirit.  I just love how you see the life of George Bailey unfold before you, the highs and lows, the love that he has for Mary and how it helps him become a better man.

I'm really excited about the music and movies have yet to be played in the house.  Not only do I have a vast collection of Christmas tunes on my iTunes, but we have the claymation Christmas movies, It's A Wonderful Life, The Family Stone, Love/Actually, and Elf to enjoy in the coming weeks.

For a promise to you, lovely reader.  I will be posting a blog at least once every week for this entire month.  I will also be gearing up for the exciting things to come in 2012 (resolutions, dreams, etc.).

Wordless Wednesday: Music Edition

The Golden Tribe Lecture Series: Elie Wiesel

"Life is not made of years,

it is made of moments.

The song of moments make up life,
and define out entire existence."

-Elie Wiesel

Some of the greatest things we will experience in our life will happen when we least expect it.  Since I was in 8th grade I've studied (from time to time) and written several papers on the book Night by Elie Wiesel.  While some people tend to think that Night is just another piece of literature, they tend to forget it is a memoir, a piece of fact and history.  When I first read the book I realized that Elie was only a year or two older than I was at the time when he lost half his family upon arriving at Auschwitz during World War II.  He was a prisoner of the Nazi government for 2 years before being liberated, traveling to France to study and eventually being a Noble Laureate.

Tuesday night, along with Becca and several thousand others, I had the opportunity to sit in on a lecture by Elie Wiesel himself.  It's hard to believe the life he's lived, it's so inspiring.  While I listened to him I just thought about the amount of work he's done in an effort to help/aide others in his 83 years and the small amount that I've tried to do in my 23 years.  He truly made me consider why I chose to go to Mexico in the summer to build houses, why I'm so mission driven.  While our efforts are vastly different from each other, they have the same reasoning, to better the experiences of life of those who are suffering and to put an end to indifference.

"The Captains under Hitler were all PhDs (...) Cultured people simply cannot do certain things.  People who enjoy a concerto by Schubert simply cannot kill children, but here, they did.  What happened to make culture fail them?"

I don't think that, as a general public, we knew how smart the Nazi leaders were as a whole.  To be so educated and to be so twisted in thought about a group of people they didn't know, or care to understand, is something that is difficult to understand.  How is this possible?  The more educated you are, the more you should research before making such drastic moves.  I guess Hitler was more convincing that I had realized.

The lecture closed with a question and answer session, including what I considered to be the question of the hour: What would you say to someone who denies the Holocaust happened?  Elie's response was simple, "Nothing..."  Receiving a round of applause for this, he continued saying we shouldn't have to justify what he doesn't believe because he will never understand it the way we do.  We shouldn't have to convince someone that things like this have happened or are happening now.

Wordless Wednesday: Best Friend/Vacation Edition

Do You Remember?

"You once told me, our fingerprints don't fade from the lives we touch. Is that true for everybody, or is it just poetic bullshit?"

- Tyler, Remember Me

Hard to believe it's been 10 years already.  Tuesday, September 11, 2001 has now become Sunday, September 11, 2011.  American lives have returned to normal, unless you're traveling, in which case TSA governs all.  Though whenever New York City, the Pentagon, or open fields in Pennsylvania are brought up your mind seems to wonder back to that early September morning.

Growing up I would hear people recall where they were when Pearl Harbor was attacked, when Kennedy was assassinated, when Martin Luther King, Jr was assassinated, what it was like to see the Challenger shuttle explode.  9/11 was one of those days for me.  I will always remember, just like everyone else, where I was, what I was doing, etc.

I remember that day as an overcast day in Live Oak and being with Mrs. Bonds (8th grade) class outside working on a science experiment (oddly enough we were working on recording speed and time for air propelled rockets).  When we walked inside one of the other teachers was in the room waiting to talk with Mrs. Bonds, who, after some brief words, silently walked across the room with tears in her eyes and turned on the television set.  Some of us, as we watched her, thought something had happened to her youngest child as she walked with the tears swelling, before we realized what was really happening miles away.  As we sat there in silence reading and watching the news unfold I realized George W. Bush was suppose to be in Florida on that day.  When it was revealed the Pentagon had been hit and they were most likely going after the President I became worried for my father who was working in Tallahassee at the capital...where Jeb Bush, the President's brother, was also working.  Luckily my mother worked at the Middle School and when I was allowed to go see her she had just talked with my father, who, like most people, was given the rest of the day off.

The rest of the day was spent watching the news unfold, news about all 4 flights that had been hijacked, news about the towers and surrounding buildings that were damaged, the estimated death/injury toll, and who was already traveling to help respond to the horrifying event.

It's funny to have watched 10th anniversary interviews of people who survived or lost loved ones on that day because they recall how beautiful a morning it was, the cool crisp autumn air, the sun rising in the sky.  But I remember the chill, overcast clouds of Live Oak.  It's like the Florida sky knew something terrible was going to happen, while the sky over where these events took place wanted those affected by it to remember it's beauty.

It still scares me that I know people who were suppose to be in the towers that day.  It scares me to think that I was in the towers just 3 years prior, that my grandparents had just flown out of New York City just days before.  This event changed the Nation, and the world.  It changed a societies way of thinking.  What is safe if an airplane can become a weapon so easily?

On this day, the 10th anniversary of the attacks, the Nation has been asked to come together and unite as one again.  We will always remember where we were, we will never forget.  We will have our  moments of silence, we will continue to pray for those who are still suffering from this loss.

If You Cheer, They Will Play.

"Football is like life,

it requires perseverance, self-denial,

hard work, sacrifice, dedication,

and respect for authority."

-Vince Lombardi

It is here.  FINALLY.  If you guessed College Football season you were correct.  It’s like God opened the gates of heaven, haha.  The second the Wisconsin game started on Thursday night I knew it was going to be a good season.   AHHHHHH I’m so excited that I don’t even know where to start!

Okay, the obvious:  FSU beat University of Louisiana-Monroe 34-0 (my prediction had been 42-0, so I was close).  Can I just say I’m impressed by Mark Stoops and our defense.  I mean I loved Mickey Andrews, don’t get me wrong, but in the start of his second season with Florida State he’s created what looks to be one of the best defenses I’ve seen, as least since 1999.  EJ Manuel had his first start of the season and as his nerves went away you could see that he means business this season, which is exciting.  Clint Trickett also looks promising as our backup quarterback (and is 100% for the season, so far, in an AWESOME touchdown pass).  In the end we looked like the Top 10 team that we are, and after looking at the new polls that came out today Top 5!

In other football news UF looked good under their new coaching staff.  It surprised me that they allowed Florida Atlantic to score as much as they did, but they still got the job done.  The biggest surprises were Notre Dame being upset by South Florida, Central Florida shutting out Charleston Southern, Auburn pulling a win against Utah St out of their butts, and Clemson struggling early against Troy (but getting the win in the end).  All I have to say is I can't wait to watch the rest of season unfold, especially this Saturday.

Some interesting stats for you coming out of the first week: of all the games played, starting Thursday night through Monday night, 4 teams shut out their opponents (Ohio St, FSU, Rutgers, and UCF) and the ACC teams finished 8-4.

It feels so good to be back in the element of college football.  I did hit a little bit of overload at dinner after the FSU game though, but I think it's because there were so many great games on that I was trying to pay attention to.  All I know is I love not having to worry about homework on the weekends so I can get lost in the games, forget my troubles and just relax.

This weekend Justin and I (and you, if you'd like to join) will be watching the FSU vs Charleston Southern game at The Varsity (formerly Buffalo Wild Wings) before the real game of the evening starts at 8, Notre Dame vs Michigan.  I'll try to do better about posting my sports blogs right after game day instead of waiting until the middle of the week.

Lastly the NFL season kicks off tomorrow as does my fantasy league.  Mallory and I are heads up this weekend and I'm nervous to see how my team does.  I'll let you know next week though :)

Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

"I can feel the weight, I can just come clean

I keep it to myself, I know what it means

I can't have you, but I have dreams."

- Brandi Carlile, Dreams

Oh my goodness.  This weekend seems to have been a blur.  Actually these last two/three weeks seem like a blur.  The highs have been high, the lows have...well been low, like 6 feet under, I think I touched Earth's core that how low I got.  

Lets just say that even after escaping (and getting reprimanded for it) for an hour on Saturday and having several discussions with friends it took all I had not to cry through Jim's entire sermon on Sunday morning.  When the alter call came it was just a blessing that I was able to make it all the way over to where Ron was standing because I could hardly see at that point from the tears.  Ron's hug has been the best thing that's happened to me in almost the past month, it was so comforting.  It took me a good 3 minutes before my speech was coherent, but I finally broke down enough to share with the entire church that I seem to have sunk into a state of depression that I don't know how to get out of.

While I know I'm no where close to being back to normal I will say that the support I've gotten in the last couple of days has been really helpful and appreciated.  I still find it difficult to completely share what's going on, but I really am working on that.  I'm just grateful that God has put so many wonderful people in my life to help me overcome this "funk".  I'm so thankful God has placed me in such a loving environment and church family.

On a happier note:  After having a "ehh" day today I got home and watched Case 39 with Samantha.  The movie reassured me that social work/therapy/most things having to do with my degree is not the career choice for me, but it was a great movie.  I then had an AWESOME 2.5 hour conversation/Skype session with Mallory, Rachel, and Dave.  It was like we had gone back in time to 3 years ago when they were all in town and we would hang out at McCartney Motel, even though we were representing Dallas, DC, and Tallahassee.  I'm finishing this day with a lovely episode of Ghost Adventures (thanks Netflix for helping that addiction) and this blog to let you, dear reader, know that things seem to be getting better.

Also, college football starts Thursday night, which means Saturday is gonna ROCK!  My fantasy football draft was this past Saturday and I think I recruited a pretty good team, but I guess we'll find out soon enough.  Oh and how appropriate is it that my first game is against Mallory?

Well, I'm gonna attempt to get some sleep now, but I should be back soon with some football talk and an update on how I'm doing.  Love you all!

My Last Two Weeks...in a nutshell

Depression symptoms include:

• Feelings of sadness or unhappiness ✔
• Irritability or frustration, even over small matters ✔
• Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities ✔
• Reduced sex drive
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping ✔
• Changes in appetite — depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain ✔
• Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements ✔
• Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration ✔
• Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy — even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort ✔
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right ✔
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things ✔
• Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
• Crying spells for no apparent reason ✔
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches ✔

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175/DSECTION=symptoms

Where is the love?

"Lord teach Your children, to stop the fighting, start uniting all as one.  Let's get together, loving forever..."

- Sanctuary

I always feel that all I do is complain when I write, but at least I'm being real, and that's what truly matter...right? Dear reader please know that my blogs will start to become less negative once football season is officially here (Thank God for that).

Please know that I care for you, all of you, my friends, deeply, however if I seem distracted, depressed, not myself, or just like not talking, it's nothing you did, it's something I'm trying to work through.  I've recently found out about a situation that indirectly involves me, but has deeply troubled me.  I know it's during this time that I should rely on God, and yes I KNOW I should, but it's just so difficult.  I suddenly feel like I've hit a wall.  I see him through the window shouting words of encouragement to me in the form of my friends and my daily Bible reading, but for some reason I can't open the door/window.  I WANT TO SO BAD, but something keeps pulling me back.  The worst part is I'm not even sure how I want this situation to play out.

On the plus side of things (when I'm not upset about said family situation) I've made it a goal to read a chapter of the Bible every night before I go to bed thanks to the help of AFC small groups and our special guests Becca and Teri.  Every night between 10pm-12am Becca texts me when she does her reading so that I can remember to do mine.  I in turn text Courtney, who texts Paige.  My lovely roommate Sam does something similar with Justin.  We're starting a trend and holding each other accountable so that we can grow as Christians.  So far I've read James, Jude, and I'll be finishing 1 John this week.  I think I'm going to go Old Testament next.

Ugh I just wish I could escape for a little bit so I could figure things out, but such is life.  Also, when I'm ready to talk, I will, until then just understand I need your prayers.

Mue Mèkredi! (translation: Wordless Wednesday!)