Family Stuff

Hey everyone!

I have a prayer request - my family. My Grandma Sue (Mom's mom who has Alzheimer's) was taken to the hospital last night. She's been very hostile towards anyone who tries to help her and she hasn't been eating. She had a really bad week and things aren't getting better, so she may or may not be moving to a nursing home. Please pray that the right decision is made for her and our family.

My Aunt Debbie (Dad's sister) is still in the hospital. She has really her moments/days, so please pray for her and that situation.

Finally, Thursday (April 30th) is the one year anniversary of my Granddaddy Mark's (Dad's dad) death. We still are saddened by and coping with his death, even a year later.

So, needless to say... We have a lot going on and I just ask that you pray for us so that we may have peace through all of this and that we can cling tight to each other and God. While I may not post much about the struggles my family is facing, please know that it is still very tough on us and we are still very much affected by them.

Mom, Dad, Weston, & I had a wonderful weekend together. Weston had a baseball game Friday and Saturday nights and we love being at the ball fields. We also went to Relay for Life Friday night, which is particularly special since my mom and Grandma Margie are breast cancer survivors.

I have some great pictures from the ball games and Relay (I got to catch up with my dear friend Anna!), but they are on my mom's camera... in Greenville. So you will just have to wait! :)

God bless!

Score one for the Jesus music!

Recently I wrote a paper for my Religion & Culture class on Contemporary Christian artists crossing over into mainstream radio. I did a lot of research and found a lot of fascinating information. For focus sake, I divided Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) into two categories:

1) Blatantly religious (meaning it openly talks about God, Heaven, faith, etc.)

2) Ambiguously religious (meaning it can be on secular radio because it can be open to interpretation)

I focused my paper on the second category and talked about the growing popularity and acceptance of this type of music. Usually, proclaimed Christians that are not signed with Christian music labels sing these songs. For example, Mat Kearney, Creed, Lifehouse, The Fray, Switchfoot, etc. Anyways, these artists/songs/albums have been hitting the top of the Billboard charts over the last decade, while playing on Christian radio too. How awesome is that?

But, what is even MORE awesome is this: Did you know that 6 of the top 11 finalists on American Idol this season are self-proclaimed Christians? Yep! Danny Gokey, Michael Sarver (oil-rig guy), Kris Allen, Scott MacIntyre, Matt Giraud, and Lil Rounds all have said they are believers. Danny, Michael, and Kris all lead their local churches’ worship teams and Scott is a member of a gospel-quartet. Before coming on the show, Matt was previously in the Christian music industry and he has already released Christian albums. AND Danny, Matt, and Kris are in the top five now! Previous contestants such as Chris Daughtry, Ruben Studdard, and Carrie Underwood are also believers and have had cross-over songs – well, Ruben crossed-over completely into the gospel industry.

So what’s so great about this? Two things actually – 1) Clean music on secular radio = awesome! And 2) studies continually prove that the number of believers in America is on the decline and younger generations have the least. Well, who listens to pop radio and watches American Idol? Younger generations! Many of this generation's role models are believers and the music they sing glorifies God! (Sweet! High five!)

Score one for the Jesus music!

In a time where so-called “tolerance” rules over the nation, but Christians are mocked and dismissed for their “close-minded” views (did you see Miss America?), this news is awesome!

I could write so much more on this (only because I just wrote a paper on it), but that’s the gist of it. I thought it was pretty interesting so I wanted to share.

Rock on!

"Summertime's a coming"

Thankfully, this busy semester is almost over. I’ve been thinking about what I want to do with all my free time this summer (besides working of course). I always have a bunch of things that I want to do, but during the school year they just aren’t feasible time wise. So, I’ve started a list (yes, a list) of the things I want to do this summer:

1. Read Pride & Prejudice – its one of my favorite movies and I feel like such a cop out that I haven’t actually read the book… so, read it I will!
2. Get a tan! Last summer, between summer school and work there was no time for fun in the sun. AND, seeing that I’m in two weddings coming up… girl needs to get a tan.
3. Go to bed on time! - cause that never happens in college... didn't you see my last post?
4. Finish my Grandma’s stocking that I started for her … for Christmas (ahem… last Christmas). Gosh cross-stitching takes so much time!
5. Scrapbook – oh long, lost hobby, how I miss thee…

That’s all I have on the list so far… I’ll let you know if I add anything! What do you have on your list for the summertime?

Random Rambles No. 1

Man, (if I was a politically correct person, I would say "person" since "Man" is exclusive and all...) after finishing my paper at 3 am last night (yes, I know I should start on it sooner, but hello? I haven’t had time to work on it because of the other 1,023,423,497 things I’ve had to do), I was utterly exhausted! If I had it my way, I’d be in bed by 10:30 every night (yes, I know I’m in college, but I’m okay with being a loser), a girl needs her beauty sleep, right?

Anyways…
I actually woke up pretty well rested and went to class… though I considered turning in my paper and heading back to bed, I really wanted to do the Professor/Course evaluation for that class, but that’s a post for another day. Though I was feeling pretty rested, I was in quite the feisty mood today (in case you haven't already noticed).

For example, some guy in the quad was passing out pamphlets this morning. This is not unusual, but I really hate when people force you to take something that you’re going to throw away… I mean, just save a tree already. The guy prefaced the pamphlet with “Don’t you care enough to stop violence?” Okay, sure, I care about stopping violence, I’ll accept your little pamphlet thingy. Pause. It’s a pamphlet about becoming vegan. Hmm... nope, don’t care that much.

Fast forward to later… my friend Brittany and I were heading to pick up some lunch when vegan guy interrupts us. No I don’t want another one of your pamphlets about vegans and slaughter houses. I did not kill the animal, I simply ate an already cooked, dead animal… just like you are passing out paper that's on an already cut down tree. Besides, why let a good, cooked chicken go to waste when there are starving people in Africa? I’m sure they don’t think that eating chicken is violent. “Don’t you care enough to stop violence” Brittany and I: “NO!” And we proceed to Chick-fil-a. Seriously… we ate chicken nuggets.

**Just to defend myself, I really have nothing against vegans. I think it’s a noteworthy lifestyle, and I’m all for it if you want to do it, but it is definitely not for me.

Then, as I was walking into the restroom before class, I noticed that the sign said “Women’s Toilet.” Oh, just one toilet? I mean, really, who chose that sign? In fact, the restroom has several stalls, probably fifteen or more. With a toilet in each. As I was leaving, I saw across from me, “Men’s Toilet” Ha! Too bad they didn’t put "Urinal." Then, the following thought crossed my mind: These signs don’t even have Braille! Why I thought that I have no idea – it always bothers me when room signs have Braille because really? how would a blind person know that there was a sign there in the first place? Don’t believe me? – check it out sometime, you’ll see. But anyways – this thought alone tells me that I OBVIOUSLY need to get more sleep – I’m thinking off the wall thoughts. And with that said… I’m off to bed! (I just rhymed. In case you didn’t notice haha)

Stellan

Please pray for baby Stellan! He's having heart surgery right now in Boston - and Mckmama* just heard that he has fluid in his lungs and tissues. I have no idea what that means, but please be in prayer for this sweet baby boy!

*While I do not know Mckmama personally, I have been following her blog for about a year and feel as if I know her and her sweet family. You can follow her updates on her blog or click on my sidebar on "my charming kids."

Weekend Fun

Yes, I'm still alive and well! Sorry it's been a couple of days.... but ANYWAYS!
I had an AMAZING weekend! Parker & I got to hang out and spend some quality time together. We went out to eat at Champs with Amanda & Cory and Katherine & Eric. The six of us went bowling afterwards and let's just say I was in God's good grace or something because I bowled better than I ever have before... definitely a fluke and will probably never happen again. The boys won... but the girls were pretty close considering the guys had a professional very good bowler.

First game scores:
Boys 344, Girls 316

Second game scores:
Boys 358, Girls 302

I bowled a 133 first game, and a 112 second game. Just to make it clear, I don't remember ever breaking 100 before this weekend - ever.

Here's the picture to prove it.


Although Cory's score is covered up... I let you figure out who the very good bowler is for the boys...

Team Boys - Eric, Parker, & Cory

Team Girls - Amanda, Laura, & Katherine
We may have lost the bowling contest, but I think it's safe to say we won the beauty contest :) haha... just sayin'

I'd rather be...

...here...
...or here...
...watching the sunset like this...
...or this...

Summer PLEASE come soon!

*By the way, the first picture is at the Atlantic beach, and the last three are at Parker's family's river house.