Big Move

lauraka is making a move – so ignore that last post.. :)

This move will allow you to see photos, videos, and of course my blog posts.

Find me now HERE!

R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

So I’m forewarning you that even though I have stewed over this issue before venting my reactions, and tried to put together a well thought out, non-rant. I apologize if I step on the soapbox. I will try to come back and edit if necessary.

I generally try to avoid speaking in public concerning my personal views on politics nowadays simply because I find they cause fights. And I hate fights. I only speak when asked, and with people who I really believe can carry on a civilized discussion about our two opinions, differing or alike.

I am apalled at the lack of respect our new president is recieving from so many. I see facebook flooded with comments of “when will he get shot” to “Obama is already screwing the country up” and even some mentioning and questionning Christians dedication to Christ if they support Obama. To be honest, to see these comments from my friends, and especially those who take such a stand for Christ, scares me.

We follow Christ who said, “Give to Caeser what is Caeser’s and to God what is God’s.” (Matthew 22:21) I really don’t think that Jesus was speaking only about taxes and monetary things. He was telling them to respect their government and Caeser by giving the government the taxes they owed according to law. Granted, the law doesn’t say you must respect and lift up the president in America. I’m very glad it says the opposite almost, that we are allowed to say the things we do by law. (duh, I’m a journalism major. i love the first amendment.) BUT I think that because he was elected by the public, that he should be respected regardless of what he does.

We prayed for God to choose the right man and put him through. Maybe he is not the right man, but I know God has a plan like he always does. He will make the best out of every circumstance. So many Christians coated this election with prayers. Now it is time for us to pray for our country. Pray for our President Barack Obama–I don’t care what your opinion of him is. He is still a human who needs our prayers.

I may not agree that he is the best choice for president. But I do know that he is my president. And I will respect him.

I challenge you to do the same. At least give him more than a week to form an opinion on the man!

i didn’t die.

so, college is hard. and time consuming. factor in me, being the social butterfly that I am, getting my schoolwork done takes great feats, in addition to maintaining a blog, which obviously didn’t happen. whoops. so if any of the proud and the faithful are there checking up on me, here i am. not dead.

i learned so many things this year. i learned to grow up. i learned to let go. i learned to study. i learned more about making fantastic friends. i learned that letting go sucks. i learned that i’m not good at it and haven’t completely yet. i learned there’s a little more adventure in me. i learned a ton of australian lingo. i learned to become a better writer. i learned to deal with classes i hated. i learned that going to class was important. i learned which people were vital in my life and who wasn’t. i learned that derb food does get old. i learned that no matter how far i go, my parent’s got my back.

i think this year, the one ending highschool, and beginning college, is one of the most drastic changes yet. i’ve yet to really see the change. but i know one thing. i am most definitely not the seventeen year old i was on december 29th, 2007.

here’s to update you.

• i decided to do journalism. print.
• i fell in love with F.R.I.E.N.D.S. (introduced by three of the fantastic four: jared, kait, andy.)
• discovered my extrovertedness.
• gained the bestest roommate everr.
• decided i wanted to study in australia for my sophomore year of college.

YET. I still love silly little kid things like disney, build-a-bear and playgrounds.

when i grow up..

in kindergarten i wanted to be a ballerina. [i hadn't yet discovered my lack of coordination. at that age-everyone was clumsy.]

in second grade i wanted to be a teacher. [this dream held out for a little longer.]

in sixth/seventh grade i wanted to be a overseas missionary. [realized short term would be better. but who knows what God has in store.]

in eighth grade i wanted to be a photographer.

in eleventh grade i wanted to be a graphic designer.

in twelfth grade i wanted to be a journalist.

the dream now: to be a photographer and writer for sports illustrated.

what did/do you want to be when you grow up?

i love my olympics.

So most of the people that have hung out with me since August 8th think I’m nuts. I’m obsessed.

They’re probably right.

The look of my DVR list shows what they’ve been talking about. Obviously I can’t sit in front of my television all day long, so the list is dominated by XXIX Summer Olympics.

I love it all. I’ll watch almost anything (except I don’t particularly enjoy fencing or water polo). But then you just fast forward and watch the scoreboard. :].

Nothing beats watching America annihiliate the competition.

And nothing beats watching their faces while they’re doing it.

(and dreaming about being there. taking pictures like the ones above.)

yikes.

this year has been filled with so many lasts.

my last first day of school (at home.) last homecoming. last high school football game. last first deadline with yearbook. last first semester high school finals. last winter break. last spring break. last deadline ever for yearbook. last last day of school (at home.) and the list continues. (really it could go on and on and on and on… you get the point.)

but there is one huge thing, that not a lot of kids my age have in their “lasts list.”

seven years ago I helped Debbie and Traci (along with my two lovelies Kristi, and Carley) start this thing at church called SWAT. The “Service Worship Adoration Team.” Really I think we just chose SWAT cause it sounded cool. But nonetheless, since the sunday we started, nearly every other week afterwards I was on that stage with Kristi and Carley leading the 3-5/6 graders in worship. We lost a few members, and gained a few, and then continued to grow. Until now. They still exist all right, it is so cool to see how far the team has come. Heck- THERE’S BOYS NOW! Exciting stuff.

Sunday is my last day on team. I am officially no longer a student (pertaining to church). weird.

israel. :]

they say time flies when you’re having fun. i’m pretty sure it flies when i’m not looking.

so far this new chapter of life hasn’t seemed much different.

in one week i will be standing on ground that Jesus likely walked on. WOW?

maybe that will impact this next chapter. i promise to tell all upon my return. but until then.. i kinda have to help finish the yearbook first. not a lot of time in there. 

one request for you readers. as few or as many of you as there are..

pray. pray for me and my dad as we go on this new adventure. pray for my mom and sister as they are at home while we’re away. pray for peace of mind. pray for unity of the team. pray for safety. and pray for the hearts and lives of those we will encounter. :]

the last of the lasts.

I am done.

No more high school tests, quizzes, or notes. No more math. No more bells that sound like the NBC jingle. (okay. so there’s one more. details..)

My check out sheet is signed. My books are all turned in. My locker is cleaned out. I’ve got the composite, and my cap and gown in my hands. It’s time. The last of the lasts for this year. (well most of them.)

That’s kind of what senior year has been full of, a whole lot of lasts. Last first deadline, last homecoming, last first semester high school finals, last people deadline, last WPA, last prom, last final, last yearbook class, last banquet (next week). While its all sad, and to be honest, I’m kind of freaking out at how fast time flew, and how much I’ve changed, and how much I’ll miss people, the time has come. I may not be ready, but it is here and I’m moving on to the next big part of life.

As the spanish board says, courtesy of mi amigo, roya..

“Nosotros freakando terminamos” –now there’s some spanglish for ya.

the snail’s crawl decided to speed up.

i think i blinked.

and grew up when i wasn’t looking.

i know this is practically all i’ve thought about, and wrote about in the last year.. because its kinda consuming my life right now.

i was babysitting this adorable little gal tonight, claire. and when she showed me her cheerleading skills with her KSU pom poms, i told her i was going there next year. this concept didn’t click at all. she couldn’t understand why i wouldn’t be able to come play as much, why my “mommy” wasn’t coming, why i wouldn’t be at church every sunday, why i would be so far away, why i had to go.

i remember being four or five, like claire, and looking at the high school kids like they were giants. they were so big, and i’m pretty sure i had a similar conversation with, who i thought was the coolest person in the world at the time, Leah Hardin, my babysitter who went to college in Alabama–way far away from Michigan!

All these things have made me realize how senior year is just packed full with all these ‘lasts.’

saturday was my last high school dance (likely) ever. this is my last full week of high school. last night was my last thirst as a high school student. next time, i’ll be a high school graduate.

last homecoming, last WPA, last first semester finals. last two week long winter break. last field trip. last book project. last math class (3 left!). 

it’s all coming to an end. and while i’m so looking forward to going to college and having the freedom to choose for myself… i’m scared to death. i can’t believe it’s actually here. it took so long. and now graduation is in less than two weeks. i’m growing up and leaving this huge part of my life behind, and i’m not sure if i’m ready yet..

yesterday i drove across the country in a mini van

97 days until I walk across the gym outfitted in my blue cap and gown, complete with hawaiian lei at Mill Valley and shake Dr. Joe’s hand as I accept my diploma that states I am now a highschool graduate.40 days until i am no longer a minor. i can sign my own release forms. buy lotto tickets if i please. order off of infomercials. VOTE! be arrested and tried as an adult. [no worries. i'm not doing that route]. and i swear it was yesterday my mom and i were driving across the country in our green mini van stocked with doughnuts and miscellaneous other junk food as my dad and sister rode in the un-airconditioned moving van, complete with ice chests for cooling purposes. it was august fourth, 2001. where did it go? when did six, almost seven years soar past me? when did i become a teenager? when did i grow up? for that matter, when did my baby sister grow up? they say that as you get older, time passes faster.i used to not believe them. holy crud is that true. i remember waiting for time to pass. now i feel like i wished it away. it used to be that as soon as i turned an age, i wanted the next year to come. after all. thirteen meant i was cool. wow was that a long time ago. they also say that time flies when you’re having fun. while it does do that, i’m beginning to think it flies right by itself, no fun necessary.not that i havent had fun these last eighteen years. (eh give or take a few months) i have. it was life. ups. downs. all arounds.to think what life would have been like if my grandmom hadn’t mistakenly spilled the beans during spring break 2001 about the fact that we were moving. or if my dad had decided God wanted us in White House [yes that's a real place], TN instead. To think i wanted to move there instead of kansas… yet here I am.i’ve loved, laughed, grown, hurt, cried, been angry. i love how romans 8:28 never fails to come true. “And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”