Let's Play a Game

So I have a good hour before I have to go to work and I need to update this thing. Since I have nothing really to write home about, I am going to play a game and want you to play too. I am going to list things about me. Some of them are lies and some are actual truth. See if you know enough about me to discern which is which. I will post answers in a couple of days...ready? : )

1. Every night I sleep with a retainer.

2. My favorite kind of music is soundtrack scores.

3. I absolutely love country music with all my heart.

4. When I am reallllllyyy tired I talk and walk in my sleep.

5. I had braces for three years.

6. I think scrapbooking is the biggest waste of time ever.

7. I went on a road trip this past summer to New Jersey.

8. I have always loved dressing up and being a girl.

9. I love studying about Hilter, Stalin, and the Holocaust.

10. There are two absolute musts for my wedding- It has to be at Cornerstone and there is going to be dancing.

11. I cannot stand the sight of surgery or blood.

12. This summer I plan on volunteering at Children's Hospital.

13. My first job was at Cold Stone Creamery.

14. I have donated blood three times.

15. I really can't stand little kids, too many of them freak me out.

Sweet Relief of Contact

Today was a long day at work...a verryyy long day. I had a nine hour shift, which most of you are like "Sooo...that is my regular day at work or that is a short shift for me" but for working at a daycare, that is one heck of a long day with only a half an hour break. Most people get the luxary in their jobs to sit and relax for their lunches...I am usaully just about to take my first bite of my lunch when a child decides to knock their lunch over to spill all over the ground. Anywhoo, I should not really complain, I love my job very much.

I came home today verrrrryyyy tired. I fell asleep on the living room floor at seven o'clock, that is how tired I was. However, the day proved worth it when I recieved a phone call of a lifetime. My mom had mentioned that someone had called the house just before I pulled up the driveway and she told them to call me back later. The phone rang, I answered it having no idea who I was talking to for five minutes. Then she said, I hope you would know what your new jersey twin sounds like by now.

Good gollie gracious gee wilkers, I was sooooooo excited! I have not heard from my beautiful twin from new jersey since I went there (New Jersey) in July. Okay let me explain the two of us. Heidi Elizabeth Mayo and Rachel Louise Moen met up at Semp 2004 (students equipped to minister to peers) in Toronto. She is in Johnnie Norbeck's church for clarification. Anywhoo, we met and kind of didnt think much of each other. Then Semp 2005, we remembered each other, and maybe talked once or twice. However, we exchanged email addresses and thats when the magic happen.

We very quickly found out that we had everything in common. The really only main difference between us is the fact she has blonde hair and I have brown hair. I am not even blowing this out of proportion but everytime we talk, we both will share what God is teaching us, and not even kidding the other one will have already experienced it. But even better, the other one will just have experienced it so the lessons learned are fresh or we both go through the same thing at the same time.

At Merge 2006 (Semp totally revamped everything) Heidi and I could not wait to see each other. I was showing the girls from our youth group around the hotel and she was too. She apparently saw some of our luggage on the floor in one of the hallways and got very excited. We both left our groups and started running for each other. We turned this corner and crashed into each with this huge hug. We fell into everyone's luggage. It was truly romantic. ; )

We used to only see each other once a year but now it's every few years. She attends Word of Life in Argentina to pursue missions work so we barely even talk now. So, we made a road trip to New Jersey and I didnt even tell her about it till a month before hand. She somehow still forgot about our trip out so I surprised her. I love her soooooooooooooooooo dearly. But yeah we were able to talk a good half an hour tonight and hopefully more will come. : )

Big Update...

Forgive me my friends for not updating this in awhile. This entry may go on forever as it covers the last week and a half. Ready or not, here we go...

Christmas with my family was an absolute delight. I was able to see pretty much every member of my extended family. After opening presents at home, we ventured over to my Grandma Nader's (my mommy's mommy) and hung around there for a couple hours. We ate a little lunch to hold us over till dinner with the other side's family. Once done eating, us girls played Scattogories. Things you find of the beach with H- my fourteen year old cousin Kristy claims "Hotties" It was sooo hilarious...We then headed over to my dad's older brother's house and ate the big feast...YUMMM!!!! My cousin Kristina had the chance to catch up on our lives. Kris was like my best friend growing up as she is older then me by two years. We have a lot in common, you can tell we are related. (even though we are not legally cousins) We possess so much in common that in fact, without contact previously, we wore the same outfit to Uncle Scott's. We are just that awesome.

Two days after Christmas, I was able to sleep over one of my good friend Emily Horadoko's house. The night was so warm, so we went out and took a walk around her subdivision. It was the end of December, in Michigan, and I took a walk with only a hoodie and sweats! It was pure amazingness. Sure, it was crazy windy and my pant bottoms were soaked from all the puddles, but it was great. We came back and played Karoke on her playstation. I attempted to pull a Whitney Houston and sing "I'll Always Love You" and her sister came down, thinking it was Emily singing said "Who's killing the cat down here?" only to find it was me attempting such a crazy song. Whitney, I'll just let you sing that song from now on.

For New Years (December 31- January 2) I had the awesome chance to go up to Lake Ann Baptist Camp for an phenomenal retreat for college students. We had a small group of ten students represent Cornerstone, with four girls and six boys. Ohhh my word, it was stinking incredible! The worship team was absolutely encouraging as well as very talented. I would not be shocked to see them go far with what their gifts.

The speakers Tony Tice and Ken Rudolph, though two different teaching styles, were wonderful. God used them to speak right to my heart. I am not going to lie, I am overwhelmed with conviction right now in what I need to work on in my life. I had a breakdown about it leaving me un able to tell my friends what was bothering me without crying more. It's going to take a lot of work and I think it is all too much, but He would never give me more then I can handle. A lot of things in my life are going to be turned around and fixed. I am so grateful I had the chance to get away and just experience such great things. We had a party on New Year's eve. We had a worship session and then later Audio Adreadline came in and we had a mini concert. They ended minutes before the ball dropped. We watched it with noise makers ready to explode. It was a veryyyy fun trip, I already look forward to next year.

That is it for now...I hope everyone had a beauitful Christmas and an incredible New Years! Much love : )

Faith in the Unseen

Can you imagine how terrifying but yet beautiful it must felt to know that with in you, the King of kings was growing in your womb? To become a mother is one of the greatest times of joy in a woman's life, to be able to hold a child created in His likeness, with in you for nine months. You spend the next months with not only your stomach swelling but your imagination as well. But can you even begin to comprehend what Mary experienced in her nine months of pregnancy? Outwardly her pregnancy was forbidden, looked down upon, and even tragic. A young girl possibly thirteen at the time, pledged to be married meaning no exchanging of sexual relations, and yet with child. People would talk. People would see her growing belly and point as they whispered their deadly poisonous words. She, without any defense, would be accused of cheating on her husband when in fact she did no such thing.

Inwardly, her pregnancy was anything but tragic, it was a miracle. It was beautiful, inspiring, and even an awesome testament of faith in the unseen. She, who was found highly favored with God, was chosen to carry the Son of God. In a beautiful humility, she allowed God to use her to carry His son.

Mary and others like her, have heard all their lives about the prophecies that have lived through centuries. They had learned that out of her land what come a king. I dare to imagine that Mary never would expect her to be the one to give birth to this man who would save millions from the fiery depths of hell. When the angel greets her with his warm news of great joy, I wonder if she doubted that she, a sinful girl, could be able to be His mother. What had she done that she could be the mother of the savior she had heard about all her life. Did she feel honored, surprised, prideful, or scared, in awe of the weight of responsibility ahead of her.
Whatever emotion, she acted in faith by not doubting what Gabriel told her. She held her head up high as she was chosen to carry the man came to save the people that looked down on His mother. He even came to save her.

Up until this Christmas, I had never allowed myself to think deeply of Mary's role in Christmas. Of course, she was His mother but that is the simple way I would permit myself to think of it as. Mary, though not perfect or needing to be exalted, is an awesome description of faith in the unseen. Now two thousand years later, how do we live by faith? Do we merely skate by the wall of life so we can lean on it or do we venture out blindly to the middle and know that whatever happens to us, we will always have His hand to hold. Sometimes life is dark and scary where we cannot see anything in front of us. But you know what, that's okay. The darkness makes us realize how much we need light from the true source. You cannot appreciate light when you have not lived in complete darkness. : )

"The best garden a woman can grow- is her family"

Wow...what a week! It's been a fairly good week, emotionally and spiritually anyway. Physically, it defintely wasn't the best week ever. Headaches that last for hours, probably two hours a sleep each night, emptying out the contents of my stomach on Wednesday night, slicing open my finger with a knife, and other random stuff all adding to a fun week!
Last night I had the chance to go out to eat at OLIVE GARDEN (one of my absolute very favorite places to eat!) with my work for our Christmas party. It was soooo nice to sit back and relax with everyone not having five hundred children running around interrupting conversations. We exchanged gifts after we ate. I was sooooooooo excited to give my gift to my secret sister! I couldn't even talk to her all day at work because I was wayyy excited. Finally my turn came and I handed the gift over to her. She started to open it and then immeaditely starting crying leading three others to lose it. (to all men: women tend to see others cry and like a chain reaction others will follow) My heart pounded soooooo rapidly seeing her reaction. Her face though streaming with tears, was lit up in complete joy.
I put together a scrapbook page of her family and framed it. I put all of her three things in one gift- scrapbooking, her family, and gardening. I took the pictures of her family (which her husband gave to me) and cut them out like flowers. I used emblishement stickers like bees, butterflies and ladybugs for fun decorations. I labled it Robin's Garden with my quote "The best garden a woman can grow, is her family" It looks soooooooo more awesome then how I am explaining it. Just seeing her face, made the four hour job all the worth it.
I love spoiling people so much! I love buying gifts for them. Whether it's for Christmas, their birthdays, or just because I want too...its just so much fun to spoil people. Anywhoo...I should get some stuff done so I feel somewhat productive (I did get up at 8:00 this morning to babysitt so that was good...but Im aching for a nap. We'll see...)
Oh! To Kevin, the grammar nut, can you look at my love story I posted and lemme know if I made any grammar mistakes that should be fixed, puhweeze? Thank you kind sir.... : )

The End is in Sight

Take it from Liam, rasisins are not yummy especially when they come from your diaper.

Next Wednesday is my last day for this semester! You cannot possibly begin to understand how excited I am for this! As positive I try to be in all circumstances, this semester has defintely rated up there in the worst of all time semesters. The best part is in fact that none of the classes I have grown to hate over the last few weeks serve no purpose in what I am studying to become. Joy to the world...Once I finish, I will regain my life and will have it for a m0nth till I become drafted in the war called school.

On a positive note...I just saw Justin Timberlake walk by as I type my ramblings. I am pretty surprised a million girls haven't flocked him yet being how good looking he is. If your name is Julia, you are the only one who understands who I am talking about is the real Justin who graduated with us, not the ugly guy who sings in NSYNC (however you spell it, Backstreet Boys are sooo much better anyway) Soo Julia, my dearest Sunshine, he is good looking as always but even better he's still the sweetheart he has always been. Remember babe, I am your number one fan! : )

Once the last battle of this semester is over, I want together with people to watch various movies. I am kind of pulling for Elf, WallE, or Kite Runner (anybody besides Julia and Kevin up for seeing it) Anywhoo...today during my long two hour break between classes I have to work at the day care! Make sure not to eat any raisins and have a happy day! : )

New Short Story

***These two amazing people are who I have the joy to call my parents. They have been faithfully married for eighteen years. I love them so much and hope that someday my husband and I will be half of what they are. : )

This is my new short story for Creative Writing, lemme know whatcha think! It's a small-small part of biggest stories I have. Just be warned, my friends that bare the sex called male: Its extremely gushy and romantic, I am a girl and there for I write what would have me both giggling but yet crying as the hopless romantic I tend to be. : )

The Bald Prince Charming

Josh has always been fastidious about his hair, always. This statement rang true while I knew him and before. He constantly had his dark rich brown hair spiked up or styled. One time during a ride home from a football game, Josh fell asleep. The boys took this as a prime opportunity to give him a buzz cut. Josh lied on the cold window of the bus fast asleep unaware of the fact that when he woke up, his favorite thing about himself would be gone. That was the only time he would ever let himself fall asleep in front of those guys.

Now twenty-two years later, he still fussed about his precious locks. The funny thing was that I his wife did not even spend half the time on my hair as he did. I would have been totally happy buzzing all my hair just for the sake of simplicity. When I was diagnosed with brain cancer I finally found an excuse to get rid of my hair but yet through Josh found an incredible way to show his love for me.

I had been curled up on the couch for the majority of the day under a large blanket. My youngest daughter Chloe lied next to me as we watched a movie. I was slowly losing the battle to keep my eyes from closing, I was just beginning to slip away when I heard the front door open. I knew it was Josh so I attempted to sit up and look half way decent even though I did not have any hair.

He walked through the foyer whistling. Once he came into my line of vision, I instantly found no hair on his head. I sat up quickly actually causing a wave of nausea to come in. Once it passed, I looked at him again.

“Daddy, where did all your hair go?” Chloe nearly cried as she ran over to him. He scooped her up in his arms and she felt his head.

“It’s all gone, my little mouse.” He answered.

I had a pretty good idea why his hair was gone but I could not let myself believe it.
“Why is gone, honey?”

He put Chloe down and got down on his knees right before me. He grabbed my hands and rubbed his thumbs into mine. He looked up at me with tears filling his big blue eyes.

“For about a month you have been dealing with having a brain tumor, Kristen. I have had thirty one days to think over how I could be there for you, how I could ease your pain. Whenever you get sick, I try to be there by holding you and bring the hair out of your face. When you find yourself too weak to walk, I scoop you up and carry you like the princess you are to me.

“But despite all that easy stuff, how can I show you that I love you and even more that you are not alone in this? My hair being shaved off isn’t me just helping you not feel embarrassed about being bald, it’s more of a physical reminder that I am going through this with you. Every time you see my hair, or rather lack there of, I want you to remember that you are not alone in this. Okay, Kristen? When people ask what I did, I will gladly tell them the story. The story of how much I love my wife and want her to know I will do anything to prove it to her. My hair being gone is reminder to the kids, the church, to anyone, to you and me that we are in this together.”

I sat on the couch with tears streaming down my cheeks as I felt his head. I could not get over how wonderful my husband was. Over the last month, I confess I wondered if he would be brave enough to do it. I almost hoped that he would but I couldn’t get pass hope because he loved his hair too much. Now, I stood before my bald prince charming and fell even more in love with him.

“So who is the guy that thinks he can get away with hurting my wife?” he inquired putting on a deeper voice. I smiled through my tears. “No one will do anything to my wife and get away with it.”

I leaned in and kissed him. Every girl dreams of the day where her love will do something so drastic for her sake. It could be something small or something big, but every girl can honestly say she dreams of the day when her prince charming does something truly heroic. Though shaving his hair may have come across as simple, it was one of the most romantic things Josh had ever done for me. We sat there with our lips locked, our hair both gone, and our hearts entwined by such a simple act.