Goodbye... You've Been Good To Me..

Ah yes, 'tis the last day of 2008. I can't believe it's over. This has probably been the most exciting year in our history. As far as I can remember, I don't remember having such an exciting year. There were some firsts in my own personal life, some very proud moments in this country and across the world. It's also been a year full of negative things, but right now, I wanna focus on the most important stuff that really changed us (and me).

1. I got my first real college job, and got a job promotion as well as a pay raise. Very exciting events. 

2. I flew on a plane across country by myself for the first time. That was also nerve racking but very thrilling!

3. Swimming became exciting again, thanks to Gold Medal record holder Michael Phelps. It was a phenominal Olympics.

4. I got published in a magazine, therefore furthering my experience for my future career. :)

5. I voted in my first election!

6. I got my first sprained ankle.. haha

7. I successfully completed my first year of college..

8. We elected the first (and hopefully not the last) African American President!

There are so many crazy things that happened this year, and this list could go on forever and ever, but I think eight is fitting. 

It's crazy how fast this year has gone by. It really seems like just yesterday I was jumping for joy after God answered my prayer and granted me a job. Or just yesterday when my parents were ringing their hands nervously about their daughter flying solo across the country. Or just yesterday when I was toe tapping my way to celebrating 19 years on this earth. Or just yesterday when I screamed with joy that this Country had finally embraced change. It's amazing that time can go by so fast, in the blink of an eye, and we don't take the time to thank God. Sure, we are in one of the worst economic crisis in decades, and sure many families lost loved ones, and yes, thousands have lost their jobs because of our economic state. Are we alive though? Shouldn't we give thanks for even that? For the fact that, even in our crisis, we can still have food and clothes, and some place for shelter? I'm not sure about you, but there so much we can still thank God for, even in our worst of situations. Let's practice that for the new year.

So, see ya 2008. It's been a blast, and I hope 2009 brings just as many adventures, if not more! 

It's a beautiful Summinter...

Summinter is summer in the winter. I walked outside my door today, fully expecting to keel over in a cold seizure. Imagine my surprise when there was only the greeting of 25 degrees instead of -2. It was pleasant. I thought to myself "Wow, it feels like a summer day." Call me crazy, but today I experienced a summer sensation in the middle of snow and ice. :)

Christmas is almost here. It's funny because, usually I feel like we (not my family but people in general, especially TV people) go into Christmas anticipation OVERLOAD, and then the day comes and its like.. well there ya have it. Done with. But this year, its like... eh, whatever. I guess because the economy is so bad, people are spending so much money pumping out unnecessary Christmas ... stuff. It's nice actually. I like the Holidays and all, but for me they are slightly overrated. I mean... what's the big deal? (Yeah, call me scruge) Oh, but this year, I actually am I little excited about Christmas, because I got gifts for my family and (hopefully) they got stuff for me too. Broke the bank for them actually, lol.

I'm really hungry right now... like.. uh.. STARVING.. it's 2:40, and I haven't eaten anything today. I don't get off work till 4:00. Boy.. now I see why they say eating breakfast is the most important thing to do because if you don't eat till the end of the day, you feel like you gotta make up for ALL those other calories you didnt' eat, and you overcompensate. Then your body hates you and calculates a rather evil revenge; adding gross fat to your heart and clogging it up (as well as other major internal organs). I'm really hungry though.. WOW. Really hungry.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow..

The weather outside truly is frightful. With a wind chill of -10 or so, and snow falling heavily on the ground, its beginning to look a lot like Antartica out there. I've never seen weather like this in my life. It's crazy out there people. There is almost zero visibility, the roads are ice, the wind is a biting cold and theres plenty PLENTY of snow on the ground.

I WAS a little upset that I still had to come into work, but you know what? At least I have a job to come to. I get paid a fair amount, and there's heat and internet and people and shelter and water here. Sure I had to come outside to get here, but I'm here aren't I? Imagine all the people who don't have any shelter right now, and actually have to SIT OUTSIDE in that weather? I can't even imagine. I gotta learn to be grateful for what I have, even when the situation isn't ideal.

On that note, The Prestige is SUCH a good movie. It is crazy insanely sad how far someone would go just for the reaction of other people. I mean, sure the guy was an illusionist, so his job was to SHOCK and awe people, but wow, he went through some great length for the "look on their faces" as he said with his last dying breath. Very good movie that makes you really think about stuff.

I just thought of something. No one else may EVER read this blog, but guess what? I will. I can document my life on here and then when I'm like... 100 and I'm wondering, man, what was I like as a teenager (or at least the last few months of my teenage life) I can go to jnellethemusical's blog, and see. I wonder if I will hate or love the future me..?

...And will the future me hate or love the present me?

Love Hurts...

That title actually means... nothing. I just heard that song last night, and now it's in my head and I decided to name my blog... Love Hurts.

I'm actually not sure how that makes sense. Love doesn't hurt. Love feels great. Being hurt is what hurts. The other person, whoever they are, is who hurts you. But it isn't love. Love only wants to give you good things, and make your love better. God is love. And God doesn't hurt. Therefore, love doesn't hurt.

Moving on...

Yes, it is Friday again. And today there was a "blizzard". The news people were hyping it up to be a lot worse than it actually ended up being. Granted, it is QUITE chilly out, and there is snow/sleet/rain outside.. BUT it could be a lot worse. So I'm glad it's not as worse as it could be. That makes sense right?

I miss summer time. I despise winter. It's evil. Sure it's nice to have seasons and what not, but still.... BRRRRR... I don't like being cold. I HATE being cold. There's only so much you can bundle up around here, and still the cold seems to find it's way up through your clothes and onto your skin. Body heat does you no good, space heaters are useless. The cold here is the master of it's domain. It latches onto your flesh and sucks the very life out of you...taking away your will to do much of anything except curl up in your bed underneath a LARGE comforter and close your eyes... praying for its deathly grip to pass....

On the other hand... CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE!.. yay.

I like/love Christmas... not really because of the gifts (I never really want anything), but because everyone is so happy, and I get a chance to shower my family with presents. And the music is great, and the food is somehow better than it is during the year.. and the best part? It's the close of the year. Onto something new, something fresh... something exciting. Whoever chose this time of year for the holidays was a genius (and no... it wasn't Jesus).

Much Holiday lovin'!

Your Grace Still Amazes Me...

Currently one of the most inspirational songs I've heard in the past couple days. Doesn't God's grace amaze you? I mean... wow! Do you ever wonder, why does He bother with me? I'm wretched? I wonder that, all the time. And yet somehow He still has the patience to deal with me and my weird... flaky ways. His Graces Amazes me~

A few weeks ago I FINALLY learned how to do those special characters on the computer. I lost it. I've been trying to figure that out for years, and by a simple stroke of... accident, I managed to figure it out. I think tomorrow I'm going to take pictures. I want to show some California people what a real winter looks like! BANANA'S. I think it's been snowing all day.

At any rate.. I want to share the lyrics of this beautiful song with you all (the few people that may come across this blog). It's too beautiful and wonderful not to share: 

By: Phillips, Craig & Dean (wonderful trio, they sing some very beautiful music)

My faithful Father, enduring Friend

Your tender mercy's like a river with no end

It overwhelms me, covers my sin

Each time I come into Your presence

I stand in wonder once again

Your grace still amazes me

Your love is still a mystery

Each day I fall on my knees

Your grace still amazes

'Cause Your grace still amazes me

Oh, patient Saviour, Your make me whole

You are the Author and the Healer of my soul

What can I give You, Lord, what can I say

I know there's no way to repay You

Only to offer you my praise

It's deeper, it's wider

It's stronger, it's higher

It's deeper, it's wider

It's stronger, it's higher

than anything my eyes can see...

Your grace still amazes me,

Your love is still a mystery

Each day, I fall on my knees,

Your grace still amazes me,

'Cause your grace still amazes me....

I hope you have an amazing weekend and that God's grace will continue to amaze you, strengthen you, and encourage you! :) 

I've Got Sunshine... on a Cloudy Day..

It's a muggy day, but inside I am glad. It's a slusshy day, but inside...my heart sings. I know.. gross mucky cliche words, but I am happy! Even though it's finals week and most people have grocery bags under their eyes and frown lines on their faces. Why am I so happy?

I got financially cleared for next semester, without having to pay a cent for a down payment.

NOW, that may not seem like a lot to the average person. But for me thats HUGE, especially compared to this semester. I got a grant, whose origin I am completely unaware, and it covered the rest of the down payment I needed. This semester I had to pay 920 dollars out of pocket just for the down payment to get cleared for classes, plus an additional 546 per month. Praise the Lord for this mysterious grant money!

I'm also happy that this year is over. It's been an.. interesting year full of firsts and many other things. The semester is almost over, and now it's time to press on too next semester, which is sure to be full of challenges! :)

She Kept Talking...

One month later...

Yeah, me and blogging... quite unsuccessful. Anyway, it's Fusion tonight again, very very exciting. A few new things happened to me.. and since no one reads this except me, I guess this is a good way to document my booooring life. I bought a computer recently, and I'd like to show you what he looks like...

YUP, that's him, right there. The new environmentally kind mac laptops. It's an amazing thing, and I thank God I was able to purchase it. His name is Troy, in case you were wondering.. which I'm sure you weren't because honestly, who names their computers? Well, I do. Troy and I just have THAT good of a relationship. And no, I do not name all of the inanimate objects I own. Come on, that would just be weird...

Anyway, I also am going to be a section editor for our University paper, so that is quite exciting. Life is good, God is good. 

And it is CHIIILLLYYY outside. :)