~ Quotes ~

"I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not." - Lucille Ball

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

"Our greatest battles are with our own minds." - Jameson Frank

"One who makes no mistakes makes nothing." - Anonymous

"He who laughs, lasts." - Mary Poole

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot

"Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." (At Pearl Harbour, 7 December 1941) - Howell Forgy

"Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!" -Patrick Henry

"In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people." -The Declaration of Independence

"“There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way” -C.S. Lewis

"I am not afraid of the storms. For I am learning how to sail my ship." -Louisa Mae Alcott

“Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want, but the realization of how much you already have.” -Unknown

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask "How are you?"

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say,'Hi'

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last..

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift....

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

Published!!!

So get this.....................................

I sent my latest blog post in to my local news paper as a letter to the editor

and

they

published

it!!!!!!!!!!

Click here to read!

Death Knell of Liberty

"In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people."

~The Declaration of Independence~

When a patriotic citizen or an adoring foreigner thinks of the United States of America he generally associates her with "liberty and justice for all." Sadly, however, this nation is fast becoming a nation of "suppression and complete government control for her unsuspecting citizens." In the past one and a half years since the Obama administration took over this country has gone downhill faster than anyone ever thought possible. This administration hasn’t tried to hide the evidence of a government takeover; rather, it has blatantly thrown their control in the face of its constituents.

This utter disregard for liberty and all that the founding fathers stood for was brought out in a huge way in March with the passing of the Health Care Reform Bill in Congress. This new law will require that everyone have government health care or else pay a hefty fine. That doesn't sound like much of a choice. It sounds more or less like tyranny - the very thing the founders of this great country wanted to throw off. George Washington once said, "Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." The men who started this country understood that if the government got too big it would eventually crush America.

Last week the people of Missouri went to the polls and overwhelmingly voted against health care reform. Good for them! They realize how important freedom is, no matter the cost. However, those on the left keep trying to downplay this vote. The associated press boldly stated in an article dated August 5, "There's little chance that Missouri can wall itself off from the insurance requirement, since federal law usually supersedes state law. But sponsors of the measure were looking to send another kind of message."* Since when does the federal government become more powerful than the state? I thought America was "of the people, by the people, and for the people." What became of that? And how is it that there is such a glaring disregard for the public good by Washington?

America is in dire straits right now, and I think the American people are finally seeing that as is evident by such movements as the Tea Party, and Silent No More, and leaders like Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, and so many more. It is time for the American people to wake up and see what their government is trying to do to them, and demand that the freedoms we have been guaranteed by the founding documents. The November elections are not far off, and it is our right and duty to go to the polls and vote for men and women who want to uphold the values of the Constitution and protect the freedom held so dearly by our forefathers.

*http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMLrmlnxO4QRUYVZwQOUyMeXetSwD9HCVA8G0

Life.......

I just realized that I haven't updated anyone with the recent happenings of my life. Well, there really haven't been *that* many recent happening for me to report about. Between working at Lake City Bank and Wendy's I've been working over 50 hours a week!!! Generally working from 7 or 7:30 am until 10 or 11 pm!!! My life pretty much consists of work, taking a quick 45 minute or so nap, going back to work coming home going to sleep, and starting all over again! It's been fun...I guess! :P Then entire month of July I think I had 4 days off!! :-O Because on top of those 2 jobs I'm also playing the piano for Warsaw Bible Church, so I have to practice for that too, and then of course play on Sundays. I'm actually loving that part of my life...I've really enjoyed getting to know my new church family and it's been great being able to minister to them in that way.

Samuel turned 16 a week ago! It's hard to believe that my lil bro is getting so old! :P He got his drivers permit...scary! We went to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH to go to the big flight museum there. It was fun...although I was slightly disappointed that there weren't more guys in uniform around! :P

I actually took a day off yesterday and hung out with some friends from International that live about 1 1/2 hours away. We laugh about how we are all from Indiana but had to go to New York to meet! It was great catching up with them, and just hanging out and having a day to sort of relax! :) I meant to get some pictures, but I forgot! :( Oh well, we're hoping to get together again sometime, so when that happens I'll be sure to get pics.

I haven't been feeling very well again so I went to the doctor. On top of having kidney stones (don't ask me how I managed to get those) and after having several tests done the diagnosis is that my stomach doesn't empty the way it should (I forget the actual medical term for it). The doc said that he could put me on a pill that would cause a lot of side effects, but he doesn't want to do that to a 19 year old (a fact of which I'm very grateful). Surgery was another option, but doc said that once again he doesn't want to do that to someone my age, and there isn't a very good likely hood that it would work. The only other option he said was to eat mainly in the morning and to run or walk briskly for 45 minutes after each meal. So let me just say, if you've never exercised immediately after a meal it's not a pleasant feeling at all. But hopefully it will help!!

Saturday we are heading north for a week! We're dropping Samuel off in Oshkosh, WI for flight camp and my parents and I are going to Minnesota for vacation! I'm looking forward to the sleep! :) :) I think the only real plans we have are to go about 3 or 4 hours north with a bunch of my aunts and uncles to spend the night at some tourist town. I'm not too sure what that's all about, all I know is I'm along for the ride! :D I will post pictures after the trip!

I think the last major thing on the docket at the moment is school. I'm heading back for my last year of classes (I'll still have a semester of student teaching next Fall). I'm kinda excited, but at the same time kinda dreading school. I can't wait til this year is over though! There's an end in sight, and that's thrilling!! :) Please pray that I can find a job. I've filled out several applications online and I've had one lady call me back already!!

In an Instant

Sometimes it's so easy to take for granted that fact that I'm young. I quite often forget that no matter the age, anything can happen and totally devastate life as I know it. This is true for a friend of mine, her sister, and her sister's fiancée. The other day my friend's future brother-in-law was in a horrific motorcycle accident that left him paralyzed from mid-chest down! Here he was, a young guy, getting ready for his wedding next month, and suddenly life has dramatically changed for him. I also was just reading a book about a girl who was killed in a car accident the summer between her Senior year of high school and her Freshman year of college. This was a young 18 year old woman, full of plans and dreams but in an instant her life was snuffed out.

To me, those were two HUGE reminders to live every day as if it could be my last...because as the saying goes, someday it will be my last day. You never know when you're time is up and God will call you home. Keep a short account with Him and with others. Don't let the sun go down on your wrath.

Most of all, make each day count, and live it to it's fullest. Spend lots of time laughing and loving! Don't be afraid of today, but rather, embrace it! Keep dreaming, but in the midst of planning for the future, don't forget that you're living in today. You have no guarantees of tomorrow, only of today.

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years."

~Abraham Lincoln

Walk on the Water

You look around

It's staring back at you

Another wave of doubt

Will it pull you under

You wonder

What if I'm overtaken

What if I never make it

What if no one's there?

Will you hear my prayer?

When you take that first step

Into the unknown

You know that he won't let you go

Chorus:

So what are you waiting for?

What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities try to hold to you

You know you're made for more

So don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all

It takes and you can

Walk on the water too

Verse 2:

So get out

And let

Your fear fall to the ground

No time to waste

Don't wait

Don't you turn around and miss out

Everything you were made for

I know you're not sure

So you play it safe

Try to run away

If you take that first step

Into the unknown

He won't let you go

(chorus)

Bridge:

(step out)

Even when a storm hits

(step out)

Even when you're broken

(step out)

Even when your heart is telling you telling you to give up

(step out)

When your hope is stolen

(step out)

You can't see where you're going

You don't have to be afraid

So what are you waiting,

What are you waiting for?

So what are you waiting for?

What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities try to hold to you

You know you're made for more

So don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all

It takes and you can

Walk on the water...

Walk on the water too

~Britt Nicole