I'm going......

So folks, I'm going to Japan. Off, away, and half around the world. for two weeks. I even have business cards! Yipee. I'm really excited and I want to see what in the world God is going to do. hehe. We know vaugely things that we'll do, like two kids class things, two youth camps and a young adult camp. But the rest is kinda misty to me. There are two human videos and two dances (I need to finish mine) and ppl will talk, but who knows...
God bless us, every one... (that was for you Claire)

Anyways, I'm off to pack and find things and put them all in one compact carry on. good luck to me.
luv you all and I'll try to email while I'm there....

the highway

snapshot
captures an image of a second
can mean so much or so little
laughing children in the sand
rain clouds blanketing the sky
a blur of something

on day
just a moment in time
a moment in one persons life
one of the millions
can matter so much
be forgotten so easily
how can one moment matter so much in history
when at the same time thousands are about their business of nothing
typing, reading, teaching, laughing, gossiping, running, sleeping
joy, pain, hurt, terror, bliss, satisfaction, reactions
passing, or lasting
how can one person change?
how can one person change the world?
or even just their bad habits
so small
driving on the highway
surrounded by thousands of strangers
all with lives and hopes, dreams, and failures
look up at the sky and see
see the beauty, majesty, crisp cleanness and otherworldliness
and just think
those clouds were created
just like you and every other driver on that highway
with lives and stories and family
and God, the creator knew you
knew you'd be looking at that little patch of sky
and wondering
and he made that little patch of sky with you in mind
even if none of the other thousand sees
you will and inhale awe

such is a moment in time
passing, yes
glorious and meaningful
even if your heart is broken with tears streaming
you can look out and know
know that he who created those clouds and those wonderous trees
he is close and he is real
he's your dad and your big brother
who's proud of you and proud that you saw his little bit of sky he made for you
his arms around your shoulders
mouth near you ear
whispering
you may notice the words
maybe just the breath
you may not even sense past the tears
but he'll be there
wrapped around you
forever
delighting in you
and giving you little presents
like watching a dump truck squish a traffic cone
or a little girl being picked up by someone in a kilt
or just the words to a really good song

he'll share your tears and wipe your cheek
rub your heart and whisper in your ear
but once you can see past the tears
riding on the highway
see the sweet nothings
the gifts of God
the comfort of a wonderous king
your king

Ahhhhhhh........ brain overload.......

hello dear readers....
it just so happens that my life is going at an insanely speedy pace and I have not had much time for poor neglected blogger. But many things have happened in my life as of late. I am now an illustrious 18, my hair is cut, I'm getting ready to go to Japan, college and Greensboro on Tuesday. I'm extremely excited about sleeping past 7:30 and extremely sad about swimming being over. You cannot understand how much fun it is. I'm sorry, no you just cannot. Tonight Keith took me to Fantastik 4 for my b-day and I watched this old movie. I LOVE old movies so much. Mommie bought me the War. I think that I've only cried at two or three movies and that's one of them. Ahhh... and such a good old movie too. with a 10ish-year-old Elijah Wood. What could be better? I'm so busy right now and there are ten thousand things to think about. I have to think about my packed day tomorrow and going to Greensboro the next day and getting ready to go to Japan and I havn't even started thinking about college yet and I want to see all my friends before I'm gone and I want to have a birthday party and I have to babysit and remember when I have to be where. and I have to share the car with Keith even though I want it constantly. And many more things. It's just crazy... and I want/need to go to bed now.
Sayoonara

ok, really good quote... "this isn't stealing, I like to call it vehicle relocation program." or something like that (from that old movie I watched tonight.)

last day of 17

So... here I am on the floor in front of my computer. It's been awhile since I've done much comp stuff. It's been awhile since I've seen any of you guys. I wanted to go to matt's 4th of July thing, but I stayed with my family and we went to the pool. I won the belly flop contest. I'm so talented. It hurt like crazy. instant headache, and I had to do three. oh well. it was fun. there was also a pool wide game of keep away, girls against boys. about 50 ppl. it was awesome. After awhile of the girls loosing Gretchen decided to add all the guys over 40 to the gurls team. After that you'd hear such comments as. "I didn't know he was a girl" and such things. We won after that.

Tomorrow is my Birthday!!!!!!!! Yay. 18 here I come. Able to buy cigarettes and go clubbing. I've always wanted to do such things. Not really. So tomorrow I'm going to Emerald point with Keith, Katherine, some Barrows, and some Waldebaurs.

I'm so dang tired. Just am. Ryan and Becky are here from VA til tonight. They came on Sunday. Sunday was a bad day in the morniung. One of the worst, but oh well. anyways, so they're here and are cleaning our house. They have been since they got here. Our closets are clean, organized, and, yes, painted. Our Kitchen is definitely moreorganized than ever before. Even after moving in 19 years ago I'm sure it wasn't that organized. Ryan is even cleaning outside. Wow. that is torture for ya. Our everything drawer looks organized and there are countless labeled containers in the cabinets. It truly is amazing. I just looked at the calendar and it's scary. I turn 18 tomorrow, I leave for Japan 3 weeks from today and have plenty to do before then and then a week and a half later I leave for college in Mississippi. That is so wrong. My life will never be the same again. I need to go shopping for college. My roomate decided that I buy the fridge. She sounds nice, so I hope she's the kind of nice that stays nice after sharing a bedroom for about a year. ok, time to go...

I miss everyone... see you soon and happy birthday to me...